Positivity rate below 1%, hypothesis third vaccine dose: “Regions ready”

While the epidemic curve continues to fall in Italy, with the positivity rate collapsed to 0.85%, there is discussion on the hypothesis of a third dose of anti-covid vaccine. Yesterday, June 8, 1,896 new coronavirus infections were recorded, compared to 1,273 on Monday, but with 220,917 swabs, 136 thousand more. The positivity rate dropped from 1.5% to 0.85%, the lowest figure for the year. Deaths increased, 102 (65 the day before) for a total of 126,690. The decline in hospitalizations continues, with intensive therapies that are 71 fewer with 17 admissions a day, at the lowest ever and ordinary hospitalizations drop by 225. Read also Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign is proceeding: this morning at 6.12 there were 39,312,253 total vaccine administrations and 13,338,891 people vaccinated with two doses (equal to 24.59% of the over 12 population). However, a third dose may be needed. This is the hypothesis put forward by General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, commissioner for the Coronavirus emergency, speaking in the V Commission of the Chamber of Deputies (Budget, Treasury and Planning). “We have a machine of the Regions that is ready to go right now, but it is it is clear that one thing is if a third dose is needed and then it ends there, another if it will be an annual vaccine “, Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Conference of the Regions told Sky TG24.” If it became a repetitive vaccine – he explained – to that point we should pass from the extraordinary nature of this vaccination campaign to the ordinary, which means involving general practitioners and pharmacies “. Only then “will we be able to dismantle the vaccine hubs”, as hypothesized by Figliuolo. “For days we have been hearing more and more insistence about the ‘third dose’ of the vaccine, as if it were an obvious necessity for which we must prepare. In reality, nothing is taken for granted “, Antonella Viola explains today in a speech in La Stampa, the immunologist of the University of Padua, adding:” First of all, we do not yet know how long the protection offered by the two doses (or by the dose unique in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) “.” What we know for sure is that, 9 months after vaccination, people are still protected. years or maybe even beyond. In the absence of data and with a little-known virus, making predictions seems rather complicated, as we do not know well the immune response that confers protection to the infection or, as they say in technical terms, it is not yet completely clear. immunological correlates of protection ‘”.” Before deciding on the third doses, it would therefore be necessary to wait and evaluate the possible scenarios, which will also depend on the ability of the virus to mutate “he said. But” when we are all vaccinated, if Sars CoV could overcome the first barrier and infect us, will we still be less vulnerable? Could Covid-19 therefore truly become ‘a trivial flu’? It is possible and, as with the flu, it is possible that repeated vaccinations over time will be recommended to specific groups of people who are most at risk of developing a severe disease or who work in a context where the virus should not circulate, such as hospitals and retirement homes for the elderly. But, to date, we only have hypotheses and, as we know, it takes time for science to verify them “.