After the favorable opinion expressed by the health authorities, a discussion is underway by the Ministry of Health with the technicians of the Regions for the definition of the target population that will receive a further recall of the anti Covid vaccine from 20 September. The IT systems will be adapted immediately afterwards for the start-up of administrations throughout the national territory.
Ok from Aifa for the frail, the elderly, Rsa
Immunosuppressed, transplanted, cancer patients, dialysis patients, elderly over 80, guests of assisted health residences (Rsa) and healthcare personnel, but depending on the level of exposure to the infection and the individual risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. In the opinion launched, the Aifa technical-scientific commission specifies the categories that will be able to carry out the recall.
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The audience potentially interested
As announced informally, people with “immune frailty” will be invited first, which could total about 2.3 million. In fact, the National Transplant Network of the Ministry of Health reports that in 2020 the people followed in Italy after an intervention are over 45 thousand while the Epicenter system of the Higher Institute of Health indicates 2.250 million cancer patients in Italy. Indicative numbers, since from the first anticipations the incoming circular will be generic. Only at a later stage will technical notes and details be provided for the best identification of the immunocompromised categories, to then leave room for over 80s and health workers.
Green disc to heterologous
On the timing of the third dose, the table provides after “at least 28 days” from the second dose for frail subjects and after “at least 6 months” for the other categories. For the boosters, according to the indications of the opinion, the mRNA vaccines will be used, i.e. the Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. The opinion does not include the general population waiting for the EMA to evaluate the data provided by the vaccine manufacturers. The priority, pointed out by Aifa, remains “the achievement of a high vaccination coverage with the completion of the cycles currently authorized”. However, underlining the weight of the yes to the third dose, in noting how “the extension of this measure at national level, taken in advance of the EMA position, is configured as an important public health act aimed at protecting the population most exposed to risk of developing severe forms of Covid-19 ».
“Extremely Rare” Serious Security Issues
The outcome of the EMA assessment on the application for the use of a booster dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine to be administered six months after the second dose to people aged 16 years and older is expected in the coming weeks. On the basis of the data of the monthly update on the safety of vaccines, again from the European Medicines Agency comes further reassurance: from the beginning of the vaccination campaign to the beginning of September, over 528 million doses have been administered in the EU and in Space European economic. The vast majority of known side effects are ‘mild and short-lived’, while ‘serious safety concerns have been extremely rare’.