“Soon we will start with fragile patients, we will use Pfizer and Moderna” – breaking latest news

“The introduction of the Covid vaccination obligation is a decision that is up to politics. Prime Minister Draghi and Minister Speranza were clear. It is one of the options to consider, also feasible on the basis ofarticle 32 of the Constitution“. Fresh out of a session of the G20 in the Capitol, Franco Locatelli would prefer to focus on the problems of low-middle-income countries. But the debate on the extension of the green pass and the vaccination obligation is on the government table, the head of state Sergio Mattarella himself spoke explicitly on the subject. The coordinator of the Scientific Technical Committee listened to him while he was involved in the international summit: “We discussed the impact of the pandemic globally and the prospects for sustainable development. One of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals identified in 2015 by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda concerned the maintaining good health at all ages. The fundamental objective is to try to guarantee universal and adequate health care. But such a devastating pandemic risks slowing down or even blocking the path, forcing us to postpone the deadline set in nine years “.

Professor Locatelli, can you say what commitments were made on this occasion?

«The need to guarantee access to vaccines to nations with limited resources where the doses currently provided are very few has been shared. In some African countries it has not been possible to vaccinate even 5% of the population. The most effective strategy will be that of collaboration between the members of the G20. The role of Italy, which holds the current presidency, was fundamental and unanimously appreciated, having given a great impulse to these initiatives ».

Do you think it will be necessary to impose the vaccine on 3.5 million Italians over 50 who have not yet received even a dose?

«Dialogue, persuasion and conviction always remain the main road. The choice not to get immunized harms especially those who take it. In addition to “not loving each other”, it means not wanting to proceed in the direction of the sense of civil responsibility. The data doesn’t lie. They clearly show that the number of vaccinated patients admitted to intensive care is very low. The forecasts and models of last June indicated an average of 35,000 cases per day during the summer. We had a maximum of 7,500, while the deaths even in the less favorable weeks were on average no more than 55 per day. Numbers that should make those who still pull back ”.

Are you afraid of no vaxes and their attacks, not just on social media?

“When a citizen decides to serve his country, he must not ask himself these problems or be influenced by them. The phenomenon does not only characterize Italian society. Draghi’s words best summed up the concept. Some acts of intolerance of the no vax do not fall within the law ».

Minister Speranza spoke of “the risk of returning to the reduction of individual freedoms, if we do not get vaccinated we will have to imagine new closures”. Are they that close?

“I think the minister meant that closures cannot be ruled out. At the moment, however, there are no conditions that foreshadow an evolution of the epidemic such as to have to resort to these measures. It is good, however, to remember this as a possible scenario. The game of the future is played on vaccination but also on responsible individual behaviors: wearing a mask in gatherings, distancing, hand hygiene “.

Are you afraid of the reopening of schools?

“No, the reopening of schools is a priority. The country is in a favorable situation at the moment and any growth in infections should also be manageable. Let’s not forget that 90% of school staff, more than 70% of 15-19 year olds and almost half of 12-14 year olds received at least one dose of the vaccine. The boys were admirable ».

Are you in favor of extending the Green Pass?

“On a personal level, yes. I am in favor of everything that is needed to encourage vaccinations and to strengthen the conditions in order not to risk infecting or being infected. In any case, this too will be a political decision

«We will start very soon with immunosuppressed patients. The discussion is at an advanced stage to offer a third dose to the over 80s, to those hospitalized in assisted health residences, the Rsa, to health personnel. It will be a third dose of the vaccine, at the moment, prepared as the first doses, using the sequence of the original strain of the virus and this type of vaccine is also absolutely effective in protecting against the Delta variant. We will focus on compounds based on messenger RNA technology (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) ».