Cuba blames sanctions for the delay in WHO authorisation of its COVID-19 vaccine
Swissinfo | Monday, 16 January 2023 | Click here for original article
Cuba has blamed US sanctions for the delay in the authorisation of the World Health Organization (WHO) for its COVID-19 vaccine, Abdala, due to the "refusal of several banks" to make a transfer to a company in charge of part of production.
This was explained in an interview published by Granma by the president of the state group of the Cuban state biopharmaceutical industry BioCubaFarma, Eduardo Martínez, a year after the documentation for approval was sent to the WHO.
He indicated that there is a problem with the establishment of "the line in which the recombinant products are manufactured" in his new plant and that it is due to "the fact that payments have not been made to the company in charge of the start-up of the equipment and systems of that production line".
He added that Cuba has been trying to pay for nine months, but they have encountered "the refusal of several banks" to make the transfers. He hopes, however, that the evaluation process will finally culminate in 2023.
Cuba has suffered for six decades from economic, financial and commercial sanctions by the US, including the designation of the country as a state sponsor of terrorism, which imposed even more restrictions on its international banking operations.
BioCubaFarma moved its production of the Abdala vaccine this year to a new plant in the special economic zone of Mariel to comply with the WHO requirements and to receive its authorization.
Once the new factory with the recombinant production line is completed, it should be reviewed by the WHO.
An international delegation of 11 experts - the first led by US scientists in five years - visited the plant in June and later called in a report to "reduce barriers" to increase international collaboration with the Cuban biotech industry.
The approval of the WHO is key for Cuba to be able to sell its vaccine against COVID-19 abroad, which would mean international recognition and a source of foreign currency for the island, which is going through a serious economic crisis.
