Palù (Aifa): "The peak of the pandemic has not arrived, just extend the holidays"

"The peak of the epidemic has not yet arrived" but unlike other waves "the incidence of infections today is mainly in school age and there is also more severe disease incidence in children". So "to the question of whether or not to extend the school holidays for Christmas I would say yes, if there is the possibility of recovering the days later". So on Sky TG24 Giorgio Palù, the president of the Italian drug agency (Aifa).

"The data indicate that Omicron spreads more rapidly - explains Palù - we do not know its clinical impact. We do know, however, that two doses of the vaccine are not sufficient to induce an antibody titre, three doses yes. So the booster will also be necessary. in the under 18 age group to make them resistant to infection and above all to disease ", Palù then specified.

As for the possibility of fourth doses, "I would wait to evaluate the clinical impact of the Omicron variant" Palù then specified. "There is already the technology - he said - to adapt the vaccines to the new variants and it is being discussed whether it is possible to speed up the time for vaccination". Still on Omicron, and on how reliable the rapid swabs are in tracing it, the expert points out: "There are hundreds of them, some are perfectly adequate, others less".

(Unioneonline / vl)