HCMC – Vietnam on September 20 signed an agreement with Cuba to purchase five million doses of the country’s Abdala Covid-19 vaccine under the witness of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc during his official visit to Cuba.

The Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (POLYVAC), under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, and the Cuban Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) signed the deal. According to Martinez Diaz, president of BioCubaFarma, a Cuban state-run biotechnology and pharmaceutical organization under CIGB, CIGB has developed five Covid vaccines. As a result, Cuba has inoculated 40% of its population and the figure is expected to reach 100% in late November. The BioCubaFarma president added that the Abdala vaccine, which requires two shots, is reportedly over 92% effective against the coronavirus. CIGB has also started coordinating with Vietnam’s POLYVAC to produce and distribute Abdala. President Phuc also witnessed the signing of a contract over the development and distribution of the Soberara 2 vaccine for children between the enterprises of the two countries. Speaking at the event, Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, requested the Cuban side to send related documents to Vietnam at the earliest so the latter would approve the Soberana 2 vaccine for emergency use. Earlier on the same day, the Government issued Resolution No. 109 on the purchase of 10 million doses of the Abdala Covid vaccine developed by CIGB.