Third dose, Bertolaso: “Immediately for those who made AstraZeneca 6 months ago”

Covid vaccines and third dose? “We must run with third doses even for the youngest, especially those immunized with AstraZeneca, and vaccinate poor countries. We are ready to intervene in Sierra Leone”. This was stated by the former head of Civil Protection and consultant of the Lombardy Region for the vaccination campaign Guido Bertolaso ​​who, in an interview with ‘Corriere della Sera’, underlines the need for the over 60s who received AstraZeneca to hurry “with the third dose, if 6 months have already passed since the last injection. And the under 60s and teachers immunized with this drug must also be involved. I hope that the Ministry of Health authorizes us to do so soon “. “I understand that there is less desire for recalls, but it is a mistake to wait: Great Britain teaches”, Bertolaso ​​continues, explaining that “those who have already been called to the appeal must respond: the over 80, the 60-70, the frail . In October, bookings went slowly, now with the arrival of the winter season people will be more enticed. I believe that in November we will reach numbers similar to those of the first phase “. Regarding the possibility of a new dose for young people, Bertolaso ​​continues: “In December we will probably expand the campaign to them too. And soon we will protect children aged 5 to 11 with the first dose, so I will vaccinate my granddaughter. But there is a other priority category “. “We are about to publish a study by Giovanni Corrao, professor of medical statistics at the Bicocca University of Milan, from which it emerges that immunity in vaccinated with AstraZeneca drops more rapidly than in patients protected with Pfizer or Moderna – observes Bertolaso ​​- In based on these data, I tell the over 60s who have received AstraZeneca to hurry up with the third dose, if it has already been 6 months since the last injection. And the under 60s and teachers immunized with this drug should also be involved. I hope that the ministry della Salute authorize us to do so soon “. “The third doses are done with Pfizer not because AstraZeneca is not safe, but because Pfizer guarantees a higher and more lasting coverage”, he concludes. “We are ready to bring the campaign to Sierra Leone – adds Bertolaso ​​- On the other hand, as he says Alberto Mantovani, either we all vaccinate or we don’t get rid of the virus. Health Minister Roberto Speranza has given us the ok, now we are waiting for the authorization of Moderna. Otherwise we will ask another manufacturer “, Bertolaso ​​observes, explaining: “We will send three or four doctors of our own. The team leader will be Agostino Miozzo (former coordinator of the CTS, ed), he will leave on November 10 with the technicians of Areu, the emergency agency. We will network with realities such as Emergency and the CUAMM. Then Miozzo will go to Brussels. We need a team game, Italy is ready to put its face on it “.