A group of 26 Democrats from the United States House of Representatives asked the president of that nation to further relax the sanctions against Cuba to help the global distribution of anticovid vaccines produced on the islandinternational media report.
In a letter headed by the Democratic representative for the state of Massachusetts, Ayanna Pressley, and by Steve Cohen, of the same party and nominated by Tennessee, the legislators praised the review of the restrictions on travel and remittances to the Island by the Administration of Joe Bidenwhile advocating bilateral cooperation in public health, according to a Article published by The Hill.
“As an initial step, we ask you to review United States policy toward Cuba to facilitate greater global equity in vaccines, with a particular focus on ensuring that United States sanctions do not impede current or future efforts by Cuba to share vaccines. vaccines anti-COVID-19 and related technology and medical support with low-income countries around the world,” the congressmen wrote, quoted by the media.
“A group of House Democrats is urging the Biden administration to further soften sanctions against #Cuba to aid distribution of the Caribbean nation’s COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.” https://t.co/NSv2b1Xt7a via @thehill
— Cuba Study Group (@CubaStudyGroup) June 16, 2022
After a prolonged review of its policy towards the Island, the Biden government has begun to reconsider some of the restrictions imposed on the Island during Donald Trump’s presidency, even though Havana considers what has been announced to date to be “insufficient” and “limited.” date.
According to the media, the signatory legislators expressed that they agree with the approach of their Administration that seeks to “address the humanitarian situation and respond to the needs of the Cuban people.”
The Democrats’ call is also based on the need for COVID-19 vaccines for low-income countries that cannot afford to purchase drugs produced in richer countries on a large scale, or where conditions make it difficult to distribute them widely. vaccines that require special care, such as refrigeration.
While more than 75% of people in high-income countries have received at least one dose, only 10% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose. addressed to the current tenant of the White House.
The Hill recalls that Cuba has a vaccination rate against COVID-19 of more than 90%, despite the limitations on the importation of resources and equipment to develop its own vaccination program, and cites the legislators, according to whom “the Cuban vaccines, produced at low cost with limited infrastructure, could help the Biden Administration’s goal of distributing cheap and effective vaccines around the world.”
However, they point out, “United States sanctions on Cuba directly impede these objectives, not only by damaging the country’s ability to vaccinate its own population, but also by putting obstacles in the way of Cuba’s ability to produce and distribute its vaccine to other countries that continue to face shortages.”
On the review process of Cuban vaccines by the World Health Organization (WHO)the congressmen pointed out that, although the drugs have not received the necessary approval, “Cuba and the WHO have met twice to begin the Emergency Use Listing process, and the efficacy of these vaccines has been further demonstrated by the sharp declines in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Cuba since the vaccination campaign.”
Finally, the Democrats asked Biden to address specific policies that make medical cooperation difficult, including removing Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, which, they said, “restricts and intimidates financial institutions from allowing transactions related to medical equipment”, and the addition of Cuban vaccines to the list of vaccines recognized by the United States, highlights The Hill.
