From today, the Pfizer Covid-19 booster vaccination service (the “third dose”) can be booked also for all the staff of the regional health service, as well as for the staff of residential facilities for the elderly and for the over 80s. This was announced by the deputy governor of the Region with responsibility for Health Riccardo Riccardi.
For this booster, regardless of the vaccine administered in the primary course (Comirnaty Pfizer, Spikevax Moderna, Astra Zeneca Vaxzevria or Janssen J&J), only the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine will be used. The booster is particularly recommended for operators working in high / medium risk Covid-19 facilities and for operators over 60 or in fragile conditions, but it can be booked for all staff of the Regional Health Service and for operators who carry out the their activities in public and private health, social, health and social welfare structures, pharmacies, parapharmacies and professional offices, provided they completed the primary vaccination cycle at least six months ago.
Reservations can be made through pharmacies, Cup, call centers and, for employees of the Regional Health Service, through Cup Web. The opening dates of reservations for the third booster / booster dose for all citizens in fragile conditions and for those over 60 will in turn be scheduled in the next few days.
The 2021-22 flu campaign will start tomorrow, Friday 15 October, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, primarily intended for healthcare professionals; from the third week of October the vaccination will be extended to everyone, giving priority to fragile patients by age and pathology. This was announced by the deputy governor in charge of Health Riccardo Riccardi.
For the administration of the flu – which is recommended and compatible with the vaccination against Covid – you can contact your general practitioner, the pediatrician of your choice or contact the vaccination services of the health companies (Giuliano Isontina University Healthcare Company – Asugi; Healthcare Company University of Friuli Centrale – Asufc; Western Friuli Health Authority – Asfo).
“Vaccination is particularly recommended again this year as the overlap of Covid-19 and seasonal flu could have considerable effects in terms of disease severity and mortality,” Riccardi noted.
Influenza, very contagious, is transmitted already before the onset of symptoms and up to 3-7 days after the onset of the disease, through the airways, but also through contact with hands contaminated with respiratory secretions. Washing your hands often, especially after blowing your nose or sneezing, covering your mouth and nose when sneezing, avoiding close contact with someone with signs of a cold or respiratory disease are effective preventative measures. The flu can strike at any age and cause complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia and, especially in children, sinusitis and ear infections.
The flu shot is strongly recommended in the categories most at risk and most in contact with the public, to which it is offered free of charge: pregnant women, citizens over 60, children aged between 6 months and 6 years, people of any age suffering from diseases such as to increase the risk of complications, long-term hospitalization, family members of subjects at risk, employees of public services of primary collective and personal interest in contact with animals which, it has been highlighted, could constitute a source of infection with non-human influenza viruses.
Influenza and anti-Covid19 vaccinations, as well as being fully compatible, are both recommended. In particular, for the risk categories for which the third dose / booster against Covid-19 is currently authorized (health care, over 80, nursing home patients, frail), the possibility of vaccinating against both diseases will be offered, but the two vaccinations are however obtainable separately.
Finally, the Regional Health Directorate recommends that all subjects over the age of 65 who have not been vaccinated against pneumococcus in previous seasons also receive the 13 valent anti-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.