“The Success of Cuba’s National Immunization Program: How Free and Universal Access to Vaccines Has Transformed Public Health”

Before 1959, the only vaccine that was applied in Cuba with some regularity was the vaccine against severe forms of tuberculosis.

However, since its inception, the Cuban Revolution opted for preventive medicine, whose totally free conception and universal access has allowed it to achieve a high level of immunity in the population.

The year 1962 marked the beginning of the path towards the transformation of the country’s mortality picture. The immunization campaign against poliomyelitis reduced the number of patients and deaths from preventable diseases. Thus, together with the battle against the disease, the National Immunization Program was born.

In Cuba, said program administers 12 vaccines that have allowed the elimination of 6 diseases. Vaccinations, sites with the conditions and human and material resources are present in each health area of ​​the Santiago de Cuba province.

The 62nd Polio Vaccination Campaign recently ended, in which children from 1 month of age to 2 years 11 months and 29 days were immunized and a reactivation dose was administered to 9-year-old children.

Vaccination is definitely one of the safest actions to save lives, an effort for and for the health of Cubans.