Covid vaccine, third dose in Lombardy from today also in pharmacies

Third dose of the anti Covid vaccine, Italy accelerates. “We will progressively lower the age, we will do it shortly” said two days ago the extraordinary commissioner for the Covid emergency, General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo. And from today in Lombardy the third dose arrives in pharmacies. In fact, starting from 10 November, citizens will be able to receive the ‘booster’ even in exercises with the green cross, Federfarma Lombardia informed. 365 affiliated principals have confirmed their availability and received the qualification at the end of the training cycle. As per indications provided by the Italian Medicines Agency Aifa, by the Ministry of Health and by the Region – the owner association reminds us in a note – the pharmacies will inject Pfizer / BioNTech’s Comirnaty *, which will be used as a booster dose to enhance the response. immune system, regardless of the vaccine used for the primary course. It will start with eligible over 60s and healthcare professionals, provided that at least 6 months have passed since the last dose received. The administration of the booster will allow you to receive the Green pass valid for 12 months. To book vaccination, citizens do not have to register through the regional platform managed by Poste Italiane, but contact the nearest participating pharmacy directly. A simplified procedure – specifies Federfarma Lombardia – to facilitate the work of pharmacists, but also the elderly population who is less familiar with the Internet and smartphones. The list of pharmacies participating in the vaccination campaign is available on the website www.farmacia-aperta.eu and on the Federfarma Lombardia ‘Farmacia Aperta’ App; it will also be published by the Ats, the Agencies for the protection of health, on their institutional sites. The importance of the third dose for immunological memory was highlighted yesterday by Sergio Abrignani, immunologist of the Scientific Technical Committee (Cts), in a ‘ interview with ‘Corriere della Sera’. Third dose to everyone even under 60? “It is not an extraordinary decision, in the world of vaccinology the third dose spaced from the first two, for people who have never seen a certain microorganism, is normal – said Abrignani – Our immune system, as in this case, may need of this stimulation to trigger a long-term memory that allows for further boosters not earlier than 5-10 years. “In France, President Emmanuel Macron announced that the administration of the third dose of the anti Covid vaccine will be started for people aged 50 years of age and older starting from the beginning of December. For people aged 65 and over, the third dose will be mandatory to obtain the Green pass starting from mid-December. “Get vaccinated, book your appointment now!” Macron said to the French. Pfizer has filed a request with the Food and Drug Administration to expand the administration of the third dose of its vaccine to all adults aged 18 and over. Pfizer and BioNTech announced this in a statement. A booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is currently cleared by the FDA for emergency use after completion of a primary series in individuals aged 65 and over, individuals aged 18 to 64 to high risk of severe Covid-19 and individuals aged 18 to 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2, as well as eligible individuals who have completed primary vaccination with a different authorized Covid-19 vaccine.