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VACCINE

Italy approves use of Pfizer Covid vaccine on 12-15 year olds

Everyone aged between 12-15 will be able to get the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, following authorisation by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA).

Published: 1 June 2021 10:42 CEST
Italy approves use of Pfizer Covid vaccine on 12-15 year olds
Photo by THOMAS LOHNES / AFP

Italy has got the green light to immunise younger adolescents against Covid, following a decision by the Technical and Scientific Committee (CTS) at a meeting on Monday, stated AIFA.

The move came after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) gave the go-ahead on Friday, which stated that the Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNtech) vaccine is safe for use on younger people: “The available data demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the vaccine in this age group”, added AIFA.

READ ALSO: Which regions of Italy have opened vaccinations to all over-18s?

The news came shortly after the announcement that Italy’s regional health services could open up vaccination appointments to everyone aged over 16 from June 3rd.

Italy’s Covid-19 emergency commissioner Francesco Figliuolo stated on Friday during a visit to a vaccination centre in Umbria that this would be bolstered by a further 20 million doses being made available in June.

So far, Italy has prioritised vaccinations based on age and vulnerability, giving the jabs first to older age groups and those considered at high risk because of medical conditions.

The country’s health campaign differs from area to area as the local health authority manages the vaccination campaign. This means that while everyone over 16 can book their jab from Thursday, some parts of the country simply aren’t ready for this age bracket yet.

READ ALSO: How do you get an Italian Covid vaccination certificate?

Most regions of Italy currently still have older adults and others most at risk in their sights. Meanwhile, some regional health authorities have already opened reservations to over-30s, high schoolers about to graduate, or even everyone over 18.

A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19. (Photo by Pascal GUYOT / AFP)

People over 40 are the group mostly being vaccinated at the moment, but many have reported waiting times of several weeks or a month for an appointment.

The national vaccination campaign is now accelerating with a total of just under 35 million shots administered and over a fifth of the population – 12 million people – now fully vaccinated, latest figures show.

While welcoming the news, Figliuolo warned that each region needs to keep focussing on those who need the shots the most: “We mustn’t ease off vulnerable categories and the elderly, who we will finish [vaccinating] at the end of June,” he said.

READ ALSO: Can I use a foreign vaccination certificate to access Italy’s health passport?

There are still bureaucratic obstacles stopping some people in Italy being able to access their vaccination, such as eligible foreign residents struggling to book an appointment.

Many of The Local’s readers who do not have an Italian national health card (tessera sanitaria) have been unable to register for a slot using online booking systems.

Anyone facing this problem is advised to contact their local health authority (ASL) or call their regional vaccination hotline, rather than trying to register online. Here’s how to enrol in Italy’s public health system.

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HEALTH

Covid-19 still causing 1,000 deaths a week in Europe, WHO warns

The World Health Organization's European office warned on Tuesday the risk of Covid-19 has not gone away, saying it was still responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths a week in the region. And the real figure may be much higher.

Published: 27 June 2023 13:27 CEST
Covid-19 still causing 1,000 deaths a week in Europe, WHO warns

The global health body on May 5 announced that the Covid-19 pandemic was no longer deemed a “global health emergency.”

“Whilst it may not be a global public health emergency, however, Covid-19 has not gone away,” WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge told reporters.

The WHO’s European region comprises 53 countries, including several in central Asia.

“Close to 1,000 new Covid-19 deaths continue to occur across the region every week, and this is an underestimate due to a drop in countries regularly reporting Covid-19 deaths to WHO,” Kluge added, and urged authorities to ensure vaccination coverage of at least 70 percent for vulnerable groups.

Kluge also said estimates showed that one in 30, or some 36 million people, in the region had experienced so called “long Covid” in the last three years, which “remains a complex condition we still know very little about.”

“Unless we develop comprehensive diagnostics and treatment for long Covid, we will never truly recover from the pandemic,” Kluge said, encouraging more research in the area which he called an under-recognised condition.

Most countries in Europe have dropped all Covid safety restrictions but some face mask rules remain in place in certain countries in places like hospitals.

Although Spain announced this week that face masks will no longer be required in certain healthcare settings, including hospitals and pharmacies, with a couple of exceptions.

Sweden will from July 1st remove some of its remaining Covid recommendations for the public, including advice to stay home and avoid close contact with others if you’re ill or have Covid symptoms.

The health body also urged vigilance in the face of a resurgence of mpox, having recorded 22 new cases across the region in May, and the health impact of heat waves.

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