Delta variant, Ricciardi: “Unvaccinated they did not understand what they risk”

“Discreet even if not optimal”. This is the situation of the Italian pandemic framework according to Walter Ricciardi, advisor to the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza, who in an interview with ‘Corriere della Sera’ explains that the alarm raised by some Regions, such as Veneto and Alto Adige, depends on ” a very large number of unvaccinated “who” keep the virus circulating high. They did not understand how much they risk. The Delta variant – explains the professor of Hygiene at the Catholic University Gemelli Foundation – has radically changed the dynamics of the epidemic because it has increased contagiousness and made it necessary in addition to vaccination, the adoption of additional measures such as the green passport that in fact many others Countries are reintroducing, and Great Britain is also discussing it ”. “Denmark – Ricciardi takes for example – after having reached a higher percentage of vaccinated than ours and having removed the restrictive measures, is witnessing a rise in cases so much that the obligation to wear masks indoors will be restored. With this variant the game has changed. We cannot be satisfied with containing, we must go further. Then there is Israel: it has extensively vaccinated the population with the third dose, adopted the green pass and started planning the immunization campaign for children. It is the way forward, it will be the first country to come out of it ”. As for Italy, he says, “unfortunately it is bound by the European agency Ema, which takes decisions two or three months later than the Americans in the FDA. That is enough for the waves to start again. Ema delayed the need for the third dose and the booster for vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson, starting from two months after the single injection. Regions do well to raise their guard. There will be an increase in cases. But not such as to put hospitals in check. I do not think we will return to the same emergency levels “.” It is important – Ricciardi underlines – to get vaccinated also against the flu that this year promises to be more aggressive “. Returning to the Covid vaccine, “let’s get used to the idea of ​​everyone receiving a booster dose, or booster, with a certain periodicity as happens with the flu. The immunity stimulated by these vaccines is not permanent, the antibodies go down over time. Immune memory protects people with low antibody levels from severe disease, but not from infection. It is a public health problem. Then those who are infected are forced to take time off from work and we are talking about tens of thousands of people “.