Covid and the arrival of the antiviral Molnupiravir also in Italy. “We have always believed that shared purchases at European level are the right way“said Health Minister Roberto Speranza on the sidelines of the ‘FarmacistaPiù’ event in Rome, promoted by Federfarma.” The model worked for vaccines and I think it should work for other drugs as well. “” But all the hypotheses. I’m in the field ”, he added about the drug that today got the first go-ahead in Great Britain.
“The more regions are able to have vaccination coverage, the better they can manage the coming autumn and winter, and that for a virus like this these are periods in which it spreads more “. Speaking of what is happening outside our country, Speranza highlighted that “in Italy and in the rest of Europe, the higher the percentage of vaccinated people, the stronger the shield is. In these hours, the numbers of Romania and Bulgaria are further behind on the vaccination campaign and are paying a huge price. Romania – he pointed out – has around 30% of vaccinated people and yesterday made 592 deaths with less than 20 million inhabitants. This means that the vaccine is a real tool to manage this phase “.
STATE OF EMERGENCY
“The decisions on the state of emergency are taken in the days immediately preceding the expiration date “, ie December 31. “Today we are more than 60 days and 60 days for an epidemic” like that of Covid-19 “is too long a time. What I can say is that, as always, the scientific evidence will guide us: we will analyze the epidemiological picture, the situation of vaccines, the circulation of variants, and as always we will evaluate by making scientific evidence prevail “.
The “epidemic” of Covid-19 “in Europe presents numbers that are recovering. Infections are growing very significantly, especially in some European countries, but one thing must be said immediately”, namely “that the high diffusion of vaccine that exists in European countries is allowing us, especially where the percentage is very significant, of breaking the chain between the number of infected and the number of hospitalized and deaths“.
“We must look very carefully at these numbers – he added – and see those of Italy, which currently has lower numbers from an epidemiological point of view than other European countries. And we also have higher numbers for vaccinations. I believe there is a bond that must push us to do more and better “. “Our numbers are very positive: at this moment 86.4% of citizens of vaccinable age received the first dose of vaccine – concludes Speranza -. These are important numbers but we still ask for an effort “.
VACCINE TO CHILDREN
“If our scientists tell us that the” anti-Covid vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 “is also effective, safe and useful in countering the further spread of the virus, we will follow the scientific evidence as we always have” . “As always, we will wait for the official pronouncement of Ema, the European Medicines Agency – he explains – Ema has started the verification of the data available, most likely it will express itself in December and as always we will make scientific evidence prevail”.
“In these hours – remembers Speranza – in the United States the vaccination of that age group is also starting”, so “when we reach a pronouncement by Ema we will probably also have accumulated further knowledge that will come from the vaccinations that begin in these hours in the Usa. It is clear – the minister repeats – that as always we will make scientific evidence prevail “.
GREEN PASS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE VACCINE NOT EMA
“Today’s circular from the Ministry of Health, which takes advantage of an indication from Aifa arrived yesterday evening and which authorizes the administration for people who have completed the” anti-Covid “vaccination cycle with vaccines not recognized by Ema of a booster dose with an mRna vaccine “. “The circular states that, if the booster dose arrives within 6 months or after 28 days of completing the vaccination cycle with a vaccine not approved by Ema, there is an equivalence and a current decree provides that you can have the Green pass” .
THIRD DOSE
“We have to accelerate even more, and we are doing it right now, on the third dose” of the anti-Covid vaccine. “The third dose is a fundamental piece of our strategy and continues to be administered. We have very clear rules from the health authorities and we must insist, because with the third dose we still raise the level of protection especially in the categories most at risk”. “The path of a very strong investment that as a country we have chosen to make in vaccination is the right path – he remarks – From every corner of the world, numbers arrive that tell us that the vaccine is the fundamental tool for trying to govern this season. Vaccines are effective and safe, and they are the real tool that can try to make us manage this different phase “.
“Our numbers are very good, among the best globally – highlights Speranza – with 86.41% of first doses and more than 83% of vaccination cycles completed”. And “if Italy”, at this moment in which Covid-19 is growing in Europe, “has the lowest numbers on the epidemiological level, it is first of all thanks to this important result. Are these numbers enough for us? No – warns the minister. – We must insist, we must not be satisfied, because each additional vaccine is a stronger shield “.