Italy wants to immunize children between five and eleven years with a corona vaccination as early as December. “I hope we can start in December, as soon as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves it. We will work with the paediatricians to talk to the families,” said Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza in an interview with the Milan daily newspaper “Corriere della Sera” (Sunday edition).
Reach the threshold of 50 percent for smaller ones
Of the 3.2 million children between the ages of five and eleven, the government hopes to vaccinate at least half of them. “In the age group between twelve and 19 years, 70 percent of children are vaccinated, with the younger ones we can reach the threshold of 50 percent,” explained Speranza.
Italy also wants to accelerate the campaign for the third vaccination. Austria’s neighboring country is currently vaccinating the population over the age of 60 with the third dose. 2.4 million Italians have already received the third trick. This week the government wants to decide whether Italians under 60 can also get the third dose. By the end of this year, nearly twelve million Italians could get a booster vaccination.
State Secretary for Health Pierpaolo Sileri ruled out that there could be a general compulsory vaccination in Italy. “We are not thinking of compulsory vaccination, neither in the pediatric nor in the adult sector. I emphasize that,” said Sileri.
2-G also in Italy?
At the same time, Italy is watching the 2-G rule, which will apply from November 8th, with interest. Italian politicians and virologists are discussing the tightening of the corona rules in Austria.
“The ban imposed by Austria on unvaccinated people is a radical decision, but it is very important. We have to understand that vaccination is necessary in order not to infect the social and professional environment,” said immunologist Sergio Abrignani, member of the scientific CTS technical committee, which advises the government on coronavirus, in an interview with the daily newspaper “La Stampa” (Sunday edition).
“In Austria a lockdown for non-vaccinated people is de facto beginning. We have to continue with vaccinations and the 3G rule so that our situation does not worsen like in other countries,” emphasized the senator of the ruling party Forza Italia, Annamaria Bernini.
The president of the northern Italian region of Liguria, Giovanni Toti, spoke out in favor of the introduction of compulsory vaccination in Italy. “Otherwise we will have to follow Austria’s path. Why should a loud minority of vaccine opponents influence the silent majority who want to start anew in the country?” Asked the center-right politician Toti.
The Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio emphasized that a lockdown for non-vaccinated people “as in Austria” was out of the question for Italy. The epidemiological situation in the country is under control.
The Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, reported that he had recently returned from Austria. “The Austrian situation is different from the Italian one: there the vaccination campaign is back compared to us. Because of the high number of infections, Austria had to resort to extreme measures. Italy is not yet in this situation,” said Nardella.
In Italy, since October 15, only those who can prove a corona vaccination, recovery or a negative corona test have been allowed to come to work. Anyone who comes to work without the so-called Green Pass risks fines of up to 1,500 euros. Those who stay away from work because they cannot show the document can expect unpaid leave of absence. Italy is the first European country to introduce the 3G rule for workers. If you don’t want to be vaccinated, you have to do a corona test at your own expense and repeat it every 48 to 72 hours, depending on the type of test. The tests cost 15 euros in Italy.
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