THE achievements of the vaccination program for the Cuban population following the triumph of the Revolution in 1959 have been described as "impressive" by U.S. Dr. Jon Kim Andrus, head of the Vaccinations Unit at the WHO/PAHO in Washington who, together with a team of experts has recently carried out an international evaluation of the National Immunization Program in our country.

For that reason, one of his unhesitating recommendations was that circulating the country’s scientific results should be encouraged. Directing his speech to Minister José Ramón Balaguer and José M. Miyarr Barrueco, secretary of the Council of State, amongst other officials and specialists who attended the meeting at the Ministry of Public Health, he stressed that: "You all know these successes very well, but for us it is important to communicate them to other countries around the world."

After paying tribute to Cuban scientist Tomás Romay – who introduced the first vaccine ever to be discovered in the world, namely the anti-smallpox vaccine – Andrus, a family doctor and epidemiologist in public health, outlined the impact of the results achieved by our country with the immunization programs.

From 1962 to date, we have eliminated polio, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, rubella and mumps. Also eradicated in severe clinical form are childhood tetanus, tubercular meningitis in children under one year, and serious complications in congenital rubella and meningoencephalitis posparotiditis.

He also mentioned other conditions which are no longer a serious problem in Cuba – with infection rates of 0.1 per 100,000 inhabitants – including tetanus and hemophilus influenzae (a bacterial agent that causes meningitis and pneumonias during the first years of life) or other diseases that have been significantly reduced such as typhoid, meningococcus diseases and hepatitis B.

"This is very impressive," confirmed the U.S. scientist who leads a delegation made up of leading members of the WHO/PAHO Extensive Vaccination Program. They include Mauricio Landaverde, regional advisor to the PAHO; Rosario Quiroga, Bolivian deputy health minister; Irene Leal, Guatemala; Ida Berenice Molina, Honduras; Claudio Silveira, Brazil; Ana Elena Chevez, El Salvador; and Osvaldo Berrezueta, Venezuela. Likewise, Lea Guido, the Cuban representative of the WHO/PAHO was also present.

For the last two weeks, the group of experts has visited six of the country’s provinces – Pinar del Río, City of Havana, Habana, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spíritus and Santiago de Cuba – including neighborhoods, hospitals, healthcare centers, laboratories, cooperation agencies and evaluated in total 36.4% of the population.

The head of the WHO/PAHO Vaccine Unit also highlighted the high percentage of individuals who have been vaccinated throughout the country and for that reason stated there was little point in discussing the risks of a reintroduction of preventable diseases. He thanked the Cuban health authorities for having given them the opportunity "to learn from your experiences".

Other members of the team also offered their opinions.