ALEXANDRIA. Now the fear seems to have disappeared. Those who queue to get the vaccine at the hospital’s internal hub are more than convinced. Even if there are those who have waited until now, postponing the first dose, or who always for the same reason have to complete the vaccination cycle, most are waiting for the booster, the booster that from 10 January can be given to four months from the first two doses. “For this reason the work has intensified,” explains the staff of the hub of the Alexandria hospital, which has been strengthened since Monday. The request came directly from the Piedmont Region which “also entrusted the Hospital of Alessandria – explain by Santi Antonio and Biagio – with a specific target in order to favor a supplementary response, as well as greater integration between the Company itself and the ASL of the territory”. If up to a week ago 150-160 doses a day were administered to fragile patients who from the vaccination center in the former Valfré barracks “were diverted here – says an employee -, because we are a hospital”, now the pace has reached an altitude. 800 daily administrations, between frail and non-frail patients. «By now all users are mainly those waiting for third doses – he continues -. Then there are also the first and second ones that add to the amount of work ».
To cope with the pace of work, other personnel, including doctors and nurses, were taken from wards and clinics. A transfer that resulted in a cut in non-urgent and non-oncological visits, as well as surgical interventions.
In the corridor of Via Venezia, every day there are about twenty people queuing at the same time, between those waiting for the administration and those respecting the quarter of an hour of observation. «I took the third dose – says Alis Guidotti -. I’ve always been sure I wanted to get the vaccine, right from the start. All the more so because my husband is a fragile patient, because he is immunosuppressed. He took the third dose in October ».
The woman also has no doubts about the effects of vaccinations. “I am convinced that he is helping us – he says -. Last year my husband, my daughter and I caught Covid. Personally I was asymptomatic but I got negative after 25 days. Now, however, my brother has tested positive and none of us three have been infected ».
Lorenzo Ciambarella also has no doubts. Indeed, in the vaccine he sees a possible way out for the economy. «The work has never stopped at all – he says about his company, where he carries out the commercial activity -, but with vaccinations you can really start again. We are few employees, but all vaccinated. If any of us had refused, it would certainly have been a problem for the restart ».
Giuseppe Iacobone, who yesterday made the booster dose of Moderna, after the first two doses of Pfizer, feels lucky both from a work and health point of view. “I have never had doubts about the anti-Covid vaccine – he assures -. After the first two doses I was fine, I just had a bit of a headache and a slight swelling in my arm ». For some, the vaccine represents a real return to normal. Giorgia Vedovello is 16 years old and only lived in pre-Covid school for the first year of high school. «Not even all, half – he says with regret -. There are still a lot of restrictions. My mates are all getting vaccinated too. We no longer want to risk returning to dad. I’m taking the third dose today and I’m not afraid. On the contrary, I believe it will be the solution for everyone ».
The hospital reminds that, to avoid waiting and gatherings, citizens are invited to respect the booking time and present themselves at the entrance with an identity card and health card. Before entering, the temperature control and hand sanitization will be performed. The Infantile vaccination clinic is also active in the same way for the age group 5-11.