When a Vaccine Comes or Appears in Cuba

By Aurelio Pedroso (Progreso Semanal)

HAVANA TIMES – When the vaccine comes, we will have to see whether we can form an orderly line to be vaccinated, after such a long time waiting. Whether it’s Chinese, Russian or locally produced, because we Cubans like to surprise ourselves. This to the point that trustworthy sources say the first trials with volunteers will begin on August 24.

Cuban scientists have made great headway in producing it and the first vaccination trial has already been announced, beginning in August. President Miguel Diaz-Canel has recently said that “even though other countries produce vaccines; we need our own in order to have sovereignty.”

Candidates and organizers must stress the importance of order for getting vaccinated. Because if we apply the same useless methods we have to line up for chicken or toilet paper, we will find ourselves exposed to the virus in new lines or disorderly lines, in most cases.

Of course, there is also the scourge of resellers, line-sitters and hoarders who are capable of selling the highly sought-after vaccine to the ilicit market, in spite of what might appear on the evening news show.

This last point is neither news, nor is it an exaggeration. Like what normally happens with free vaccinations in Cuba, when the flu vaccine became available all over the island. It didn’t take long for vaccinations to travel to relatives living anywhere else in this world. I saw five of them leave for Tampa to reach their destination.

Doctor Duran has clearly and repeatedly stated that the COVID-19 vaccine wouldn’t be available internationally up until the end of this year or the beginning of the next one. However, as life is what it is, and Cuba, Russia, China and the US’ haste to find a vaccine is so pressing, we might have one sooner.

We just need humanity to become the antidote to this virus. It seems that it is more like the much-needed vaccine for HIV/AIDS, with its incredible death toll and can’t be found in any lab.

When it does come, it goes without saying that the Ministry of Public Health will know how to distribute it to everyone and without huge crowds of people. Priority will most likely be given to children and the elderly, with strict controls at polyclinics and GP offices.

After the tragedy comes to an end, like an official slogan preaches: “let’s go for more”.

Search for another vaccine, the anti-line vaccine, which will be completely Cuban, with the main intervention of capable and competent economists and politicians capable of reversing this crisis which we are suffering, one which the Empire has also imposed on us.  We must pick up our economy and wellbeing in one of the most breakthrough and vital duties in the history of the Revolution.