The third dose of vaccine it is a matter of fact. After studies confirming that the effectiveness of vaccines begins to decline after 6 months from the second dose, the Ministry of Health is considering the hypothesis of third dose for fragile categories. At the beginning it seemed just a hypothesis, but today it seems instead a concrete proposal.
Who will have to do the third dose of the vaccine
In Israel, the call is already a reality. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has already invited the over 60s to the third dose and in the coming months it should touch the other categories. This is why even in Italy, it cannot be ruled out that from next autumn we will also start vaccinating the frail or the elderly who have received the second dose for more than 6 months. According to an American study, in fact, the third dose of the vaccine would determine levels of neutralizing antibodies higher than the two doses against the Delta variant. The third dose should be given six months after the second, after the study carried out by Yale confirmed that protection decreases during this time.
In Italy the third dose after 12 months
The EU also seems ready for the third dose and even if not certain, the words of the spokesman of the European Commission for Health, Stefan de Keersmaecker do not seem to leave any doubts:
“We are very aware that a vaccine ‘booster’, a third dose, may be needed. This is also why we have signed a third contract with BioNTech / Pfizer, which books 1.8 billion doses. “
The Italian government, at the moment, seems to be firm on one point: a third dose 12 months after the second. According to the Undersecretary of Health, Andrea Costa, this possibility cannot be excluded, which remains concrete especially for frail people, immunosuppressed people and health professionals:
“It is very likely that there will be a third dose of the vaccine, 12 months after the second. These are the indications we have today, it is a choice that politics will have to make based on scientific evidence and indications ”.
See also: Pfizer vaccine, after 6 months is less effective: third closest dose? What the Yale study says