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COVID-19 VACCINES

Italy reconsiders cut to Covid vaccine pass validity for triple-jabbed

Italy will slash the validity of its vaccine pass from nine to six months from February 1st, but the cut may not apply to those who have already had a booster amid concerns about the impact on tourism.

Published: 24 January 2022 12:09 CET
Italy reconsiders cut to Covid vaccine pass validity for triple-jabbed

**Note: This report is no longer being updated. Please see the latest news here.**

Proof of vaccination issued based on jabs administered more than six months ago will no longer be seen as valid under Italy’s Covid ‘green pass’ scheme from February 1st, under a change of rules announced at the end of December.

But the government is now reportedly reconsidering whether to apply the cut to vaccination certificates issued based on third or booster doses, amid widespread concern about how the rule change will impact those who had their booster earlier – particularly in the US or other countries which began administering third doses before Italy.

The rethink comes after regional authorities in Italy said the validity cut would have repercussions for the tourism industry, news agency Ansa reported on Monday.

The government’s move to cut validity is intended to push more people in Italy to get their third or booster jabs within six months after completion of the initial vaccination cycle.

But it has caused widespread concern among those who were boosted early, as fourth doses are not available and Italy’s vaccine pass (referred to as a ‘super’ or ‘reinforced’ green pass) is required for access to everything from hotels and restaurants to public transport across the county.

EXPLAINED: How do Italy’s Covid vaccination rules apply to visitors?

Like a previous cut to the validity of vaccine passes (from 12 to nine months), it appears that that upcoming changes will apply equally to foreign and Italian vaccination certificates, and to new certificates as well as those issued before February 1st.

Find more information about Italy’s Covid-19 health restrictions on the Italian health ministry’s website (available in English).

Member comments

  1. Let’s hope that common sense prevails. I had my booster dose at the beginning of November, so it will run out at the end of April & there is no chance of UK (at the moment) administering 4th doses.
    I have only managed to get to my property once over the past two years & was fervently hoping ( like everyone else ) that this year would be better.
    Fingers crossed!

  2. What they don’t realise is that it’s not just the ridiculous short validity of the green pass that will stop people coming, but it’s applicability to all over 12s. People in the UK and US aren’t going to vaccinate their kids just so they can go on holiday, they’ll go somewhere else with more sense.

    If the Italians don’t re-assess their entire attitude to the pandemic they’ll inflict lasting harm that wont be easily fixed.

    1. Completely agree. I am Swedish but partly live in Italy. Actually most of Europe is in some kind of hysteria. Covid is serious in some groups especially, but it is not the only thing. For once Sweden got something right, we seem to be one of few balanced countries. Anyhow, global economy a mess, the Italian one worse than that. They just need tourism not to go under completely. Confident there will be no limitation/long validity for third shot. They just need to penalise their own citizens a bit more first. Stupidity.

  3. They need to just make those who have the 3rd shot automatically have the supper green pass with no time limit. I had my 3rd shot at the end of August 2021.

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COVID-19 VACCINES

How to get a Covid booster jab in Italy this autumn

Italy's autumn Covid vaccine booster campaign is now underway, along with its seasonal flu jabs rollout.

Published: 2 October 2023 13:08 CEST
Updated: 2 November 2023 12:21 CET
How to get a Covid booster jab in Italy this autumn

The updated Covid vaccine is now available across Italy’s regions, with over nine million doses due to arrive in the country by the end of November.

The first jabs were available in some regions from the start of October: Lazio started its campaign on Monday, October 2nd, while Friuli Venezia Giulia’s launched a few days earlier on September 29th.

As healthcare is managed on a regional level in Italy, each region has its own start date and booking procedure.

The boosters are particularly recommended for over-60s, those who are immunosuppressed or pregnant, and healthcare workers, though jabs may be available to others on request.

The campaign aims to prevent a seasonal spike in infections, with vaccines targeting the new Eris variant as well as new winter flu viruses.

Which vaccines are available?

According to the latest health ministry circular, the government’s Covid booster campaign uses Pfizer and BioNTech’s monovalent Comirnaty vaccine targeting Omicron XBB 1.5, otherwise known as Kraken.

The European Medicines Agency has said the vaccine is also effective against other variants including Eris (EG.5.1), which as of late September had become the dominant strain in Italy at 43.5 percent, according to ISS data.

“Eris is one of the viral forms we are seeing and I am pleased to announce that the latest approved vaccines also protect against variants in circulation, including Eris,” EMA director Emer Cooke reportedly said in a recent press conference on respiratory diseases.

The EMA has said the vaccine is effective against new variants.

The EMA has said the vaccine is effective against new variants. Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP.

Who are they for?

The health ministry says the campaign is particularly aimed at the following groups:

  • Over-60s
  • Residents of care facilities
  • People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Health and social care workers
  • People of any age with underlying health conditions

Vaccines are also recommended for caregivers, family members, and anyone who lives with a medically vulnerable person.

Anyone who doesn’t fall into any of these these categories but would still like to get a Covid booster can access one on request, subject to availability.

Administration of the booster is recommend six months from the last dose or from the last known Covid infection (as confirmed by testing).

A single dose of the adapted vaccine is also recommended for those who have not yet received any Covid vaccines. For children aged six months to four years who have not yet been vaccinated or infected with Covid, three doses are recommended, each several weeks apart.

How to get the booster

Your first step should be to visit the government’s vaccine booking website and see how the campaign is being conducted in your region (under ‘Prenota vaccino’).

Italy’s healthcare system operates on a regional rather than a national level, so getting a booster in Emilia-Romagna will be a different process to getting one in Lombardy.

In Lazio, for example, priority will be awarded in the first instance to health and social care workers and residents of care homes. The vaccine will be offered to over-80s and the medically vulnerable from October 16th, and other categories from October 30th.

If you can’t see the information you need on your regional authority’s website, it’s a good idea to contact your family doctor or local pharmacist to see what they can tell you about accessing the jab.

With Italy’s previous Covid vaccination campaigns, the websites for most regional health authorities have required patients to input their tessera sanitaria (national health card) and codice fiscale (tax code) numbers in order to make an online booking.

That means that if you don’t have one, you’ll likely need to make a phone call to either your regional health authority.

In the past, readers of The Local reported being able to book an appointment for a Covid vaccine by phone using only their codice fiscale number after explaining the situation (you’ll need the help of an Italian speaker if you don’t speak Italian).

As Italy’s Covid booster campaign is being rolled out alongside its seasonal flu jab campaign, you should be able to get both shots at the same time.

The Covid situation in Italy

According to the latest weekly bulletin from Italy’s National Health Institute (ISS), the number of Covid cases in Italy has increased over the past few weeks, with 38,775 new cases recorded between September 21st-27th, but the infection rate is slowing.

As of the week ending September 27th, the Rt (transmission rate) in Italy was 0.9, below the epidemic threshold,  and the numbers of hospitalisations and of Covid patients in intensive care is also low and stable, the data shows.

However the risk to older members of the population and people with underlying health conditions who become infected remains “severe”, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warns.

“Vaccination saves lives, decreases the chances of being infected and reduces the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and influenza,” ECDC director Andrea Ammon said in a recent press release encouraging uptake of the vaccines.

Find more information about Italy’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign on the Italian health ministry’s website.

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