A COVID-19 vaccine is not expected soon

Havana, April 21 (RHC)— Several countries are working on a new vaccine for COVID-19, however, a successful candidate is not foreseeable in the near future, Dr. Francisco Duran said at the daily media briefing on the epidemic on the island.

Speaking in Havana on Tuesday, the Chief of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health noted that China, Russia, the United States, and Great Britain are working on vaccines, while he recalled that Cubans scientists are doing the same, although at this moment they have not started clinical trials yet.

The expert also dismissed assertions stating that the vaccine against tuberculosis offers immunization against the disease.

Citing from a WHO article, he said that studies have shown that in both animals and humans, the CGB vaccine has non-specific effects on the immune system and that its clinical relevance remains unknown.

According to Duran in Cuba 50 new COVID-19 were diagnosed on Monday,  for a total of 1,137 positive cases across the island.