So far 70% of Aosta Valley residents have been vaccinated, while distrust of AstraZeneca is growing
AOSTA. The Aosta Valley today reaches 88 thousand vaccinations against Covid-19. The data was provided during a press conference of the regional health authorities in taking stock of the situation on the vaccination campaign that began six months ago.
In January, when the mass anti-Covid campaign was about to start, the goal was to vaccinate at least three quarters of the Aosta Valley inhabitants by the summer to achieve herd immunity and give the community some respite after a year and a half of health emergency, deaths, restrictions and lockdowns.
The goal is near and now the USL intends to vaccinate at least 80% of the population with at least one dose. A target that can be reached if the campaign does not suffer major slowdowns.
Vaccinations behind the national average
The vaccination campaign in Valle d’Aosta had started very well, with a very high percentage of administrations in relation to the vaccine doses provided. Then the situation changed.
Some data. Valle d’Aosta is currently in sixteenth place in Italy for percentage of vaccine administration on the population: 70% against a national average of 72.26% and with the three regions further ahead in the countryside (Molise, Liguria and Puglia) already over 75%.
81% of Valle d’Aosta between 80 and 89 years old received the second dose of vaccine, 77% of those over ninety, 58.6% of patients between 70-79 years old. As for the other age groups, 75.5% of 60-69 year-olds received the first dose, 70.45% of 50-59 year-olds, 39.7% of 40-49 year-olds, 26.65% of 30-39 year olds and 25.72% of young people aged 18 to 29.
In June, for the moment, just over 15 thousand vaccinations have been carried out, 1,637 less than the target set for our region.
Distrust of AstraZeneca
The alarm raised by the cases of thrombosis and deaths of people who received the Vaxzevria vaccine (AstraZeneca) contributes to the slowdown in the campaign. First the suspension of the administration, then the green light, then the new stop of viral vector vaccines (the Astrazeneca and the Janssen by Johson & Johnson) for the under 60s led the Valle d’Aosta to desert sessions with these vaccines.
In taking stock of the situation, the pro tempore general manager of the Aosta Valley Local Health Authority Marco Ottonello highlighted an “objective difficulty in disposing of the stocks” of Vaxzevria and Janssen. The open days organized for the over 60s went virtually deserted. “We only had four requests yesterday.”
If at the beginning of the campaign there was a shortage of supplies, now part of the doses in stock (5 thousand those of Vaxzevria and Janssen) are in danger of being wasted. The Aosta Valley could decide at this point to distribute them to other Regions.
New open day to anticipate the second doses
On June 22nd there will be an open day to anticipate the inoculation of the second dose of Vaxzevria for over 60s who received the first dose between March 30th and April 27th 2021. To join the Open Day it is necessary to book on the dedicated portal (link) starting at 3:00 pm today, Thursday 17 June.
Elena Giovinazzo
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