Mexican health authorities have given emergency approval to a Cuban-made COVID-19 vaccine.

Over the weekend, Cofepris, Mexico’s food and drug safety agency, granted that authorization to the Cuban vaccine Soberana, adding to the now near dozen approved for use in Mexico. The Cuban vaccine Abdala is also on that list.

Because Cofepris is recognized by the Pan American Health Organization as what is known as a national regulatory authority of regional reference, the recent approval could pave the way for the vaccine’s use in other Latin American countries.

The development also comes as a new coronavirus variant has been detected in Mexico, though reportedly not yet in Sonora.