Contagions and vaccines – The warning from the World Health Organization was issued as infections are rising across Europe. In Italy, the Gimbe Foundation highlights that over two million over 60s are still not vaccinated and therefore are at risk. At the same time, the EMA confirms the efficacy of the vaccines also available against the variants and soon a second immunizer could be available for children over 12 years old.
The nightmare of new variants – The WHO emergency committee has warned that new variants of the Sars-CoV-2 virus could spread around the world making it even more difficult to stop the epidemic. “It’s by no means over,” the experts said, underlining “the strong likelihood that new and perhaps more dangerous variants will emerge that may be even more difficult to control.”
The effectiveness of vaccines – Currently, however, the EMA reassures, a complete cycle of the four anti-Covid vaccines available still provides “high protection” against all variants in circulation, including Delta, especially against serious illness and hospitalization. A further confirmation also comes from the publication in the magazine New England Journal of Medicine data confirming the efficacy of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose against the Delta variant and the duration of the immune response for at least eight months. In the face of effective vaccines, it is therefore extremely important to immunize as many people as possible in Europe.
Modern between 12 and 17 years and the third dose knot – The EU Agency is also evaluating the request to extend the use of Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine to young people between 12 and 17 years – currently vaccinated only with the Pfizer immunizer – and a decision is expected at the end of next week. As for a possible third dose, “it is now too early to confirm if and when a booster dose will be needed, because there is not yet enough data from vaccination campaigns and ongoing studies to understand how long the vaccine will last”, he clarifies. the Ema head of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri.
Vaccinations in Italy – Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign in Italy is proceeding. But with an “Achilles heel” represented, notes the Gimbe Foundation in its weekly monitoring, of the more than 4.7 million over 60s at risk of serious illness not covered by the double dose. Of these, 2.2 million (12.4%) have not yet received even a dose of vaccine with significant regional differences (from 21.8% in Sicily to 7.2% in Puglia), while 2.55 million (14 , 2%) must complete their course after the first dose. But “to determine the control of the epidemic we should probably exceed 80% vaccination coverage”, recalls Gianni Rezza, director of Prevention of the Ministry of Health.
Crackdown in Austria – Meanwhile, Austria is preparing a crackdown to curb a new spread of the coronavirus. The package of measures proposed by the Minister of Health, Wolfgang Mueckstein, provides, among other things, the green pass only after the second dose, access to discos and nightclubs only for the vaccinated. There is also talk of “more border controls” and in restaurants and the obligation to swab for those returning from areas at risk. The liberalizations announced for July 22, such as the stop of masks in shops, are suspended. The Delta variant now accounts for 90% of new cases. “We have to react quickly,” says Minister Mueckstein.