Cuba became the first country in the world to vaccinate children from the age of two against Covid-19 on Sept 6 (2021), using homegrown jabs not recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO). The new school year started on Sept 6 (2021), but from home via television programmes, as most Cuban homes do not have internet access. Having completed clinical trials on minors with its Abdala and Soberana vaccines, Cuba kicked off its inoculation campaign for children on Sept 3 (2021), starting with those 12 and older. On Sept 6 (2021), it started distributing jabs in the two to 11 age group in the central province of Cienfuegos. Countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela have announced they plan to vaccinate younger children, but Cuba is the first to do so.
