Director of health districts 3 and 4 of the Aosta Valley
How is the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 going?
«The campaign is progressing well. There are times with lower numbers and weeks when we catch up. It all depends on the response of the Valle d’Aosta people. There are those who do not answer and those who do not show up for the appointment, but fortunately there are few. The goal is to vaccinate everyone especially in the 60-79 age group, the most fragile one and therefore to be immunized as soon as possible ».
Is this the age group most reluctant to get vaccinated?
«Yes, in part, but the lack of availability can be linked to holidays. Probably after the holiday period the influx will be greater ».
How do young people respond to the vaccination campaign?
“The young people respond well, I’m happy. They are very conscientious and respectful towards others. They are vaccinated not for themselves, but to protect others ».
Vaccinations in the pharmacy: how do they proceed?
“From what I can see, the pharmacies have done a good job. The numbers are clearly not very large given the logistical difficulties and difficult procedures for a pharmacy to follow, but their contribution is useful. I thank the pharmacists who have joined ».
The president of the Higher Council of Health Locatelli said in recent days that people vaccinated with both doses are “covered” compared to the delta variant. Is that so? And are there any cases of this variant in the Aosta Valley?
«In Valle d’Aosta we have not isolated any case of a delta variant. The variant is certainly worth paying attention to, it is a “new” virus. All coronaviruses change over time. Our luck is that most vaccines also protect against the delta variant. The double dose certainly covers, but also the first one. Anyone who is vaccinated has coronavirus disease coverage. The vaccine saved us from a fourth wave ».
The dead have decreased
“Not only the dead, but also the cases of contagion.”
Will other variations arrive?
“Let’s take the flu virus as a reference: it changes every year, but the variants have a different impact. They infect you, but often don’t cause severe symptoms. In some moments even the flu virus causes victims, especially among the most fragile groups. Of course, Covid-19 is a completely different virus from the flu ».
There are doctors who have not vaccinated themselves against Covid-19, and they are not that few. What do you think about it?
«I answer with a little anger. I do not agree and above all I do not understand why they do not get vaccinated. Why don’t they believe in research? Do they not believe in what they have studied? Why put the lives of others at risk when they take an oath to protect the health of patients? They should explain it. They are afraid? Is it a question of selfishness? I don’t understand them absolutely. My daughter, 18, is not in the risk bracket, but out of civic sense she wants to vaccinate ».
Do they disavow their work with this behavior?
“They confess what they have studied. Does science have credibility or not? Of course, at the beginning there was some confusion, everything fell on us and we heard conflicting opinions, but at the base of everything there is research. Vaccines have saved the world ».
Marco Camilli
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