A new phase of the anti -Covid vaccination campaign opens: from next Monday - 12 September - it will be possible to book the new updated bivalent vaccines , i.e. messenger Rna (mRna) against the original strain of the SarsCoV2 virus and against the Omicron BA.1 variant . .
It starts with the categories most at risk : the over 60s and the frail.
In view of the autumn and in fear of a new wave, the goal is to relaunch a vaccination campaign , which has been slowing down for weeks. "The arrival of a new vaccine should also strengthen the conviction for those who have to take the fourth dose because of their age or because they have other pathologies" - said the director general of the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa), Nicola Magrini , specifying that from next Monday "it will be possible to book the doses and administer them".
The arrival of " 19 million adapted bivalent vaccines " is expected in September, explained Franco Locatelli , president of the Higher Health Council (Css), data that demonstrate "the commitment in planning to meet protection needs". But, he added, "the timing of the booster vaccination is more important than the vaccine used". Gianni Rezza, the Director General of Prevention of the Ministry of Health, also spoke about the timing of the administration. "For all over 12s, the bivalent vaccine is authorized by the EMA and AIFA and can be done on a voluntary basis. In the coming days, more detailed information will be given to the Regions on the modalities, compatibly with the logistical organization that must give priority to categories at risk ".
(Unioneonline / vl)