Covid, Figliuolo: “Probable vaccine even in the 5-11 age group”

Anti-covid vaccine in the 5-11 age range. It is probable that coverage will also extend to this range, writes the covid emergency commissioner Francesco Paolo Figliuolo in a circular containing ‘Indications on the continuation of the vaccination campaign :. “The scientific evidence on the trend of infections as a function of the time elapsed from vaccination / recovery, the probable future expansion of the vaccination offer to the audience 5-11 years and, above all, the increase in positive cases at the beginning of the season of major respiratory diseases, suggest the advisability of scheduling the administration of third doses, without delay respecting the times indicated by the health authorities, ie starting from the 181st day from the completion of the primary vaccination cycle “. “A planning in this sense of the administration of ‘booster’ doses – adds Figliuolo – would also respond to the need to ensure a homogeneous development of the vaccination campaign throughout the national territory; accurately plan the procurement of drugs, devices and necessary health materials to carry out vaccinations; allow any concomitant administration of the anti-influenza vaccine to the categories of subjects for which this seasonal vaccination is recommended; manage the organizational machinery still in place, taking into account the rationalization of the hubs still in progress ” Despite the fact that he considers “probable” the expansion of the vaccine also to the age group 5-11 and does not exclude the widening of the targets for booster doses, Figliuolo in the circular explains how “at the moment there is no provision for further potential target groups ( e.g. school sector, security / defense, etc. ), except for any future recommendations by the competent health authorities “. In any case, according to the commissioner, the Regions will act in accordance with the provisions of the circular “in the event of a future expansion of the target groups for the primary vaccination cycle (pediatric population in the 5 ÷ 11 years range) or of the” booster “dose ( for example, age groups under 60) “.” What is happening in other European countries with the so-called ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’ indicates “strongly the need to increase the rate of administration of third doses, as well as to continue with the completion of the primary vaccination cycles “underlines Figliuolo. For this reason, he asks the Regions and PA to” reinforce the work of information and awareness on the anti SARS CoV-2 / COVID-19 vaccination, also in relation to the possibility of scheduling concomitant administration with flu vaccination; guarantee the additional possibility of accessing vaccination directly at vaccination hubs without a reservation, alongside the usual procedures; systematically resort to the ‘active call’, booking the subjects interested in the ‘booster’ dose also through the local medicine network, with the broadest involvement of general practitioners, pediatricians of free choice and pharmacists ” Furthermore, the Commissioner’s circular reads, “the same Regions / PAs will act similarly in the event of a future expansion of the target groups for the primary vaccination cycle (pediatric population in the 5 ÷ 11 years range) or of the” booster “dose (for example age groups under 60) “.