The extraordinary commissioner for the COVID-19 emergency Domenico Arcuri has made it known that since Monday Pfizer will deliver about 29 percent fewer vaccine vials than those provided. This will cause a slowdown in the vaccination campaign and the administration of second doses for those regions that have not stored sufficient stocks. Pfizer did know that the slowdowns in shipments have been influenced by changes that have been made to production processes to increase production: “While this will have a temporary impact on shipments from late January to early February, it will provide a significant increase in available doses at the end February and March “.
In a note, Arcuri wrote:
“At 3:38 pm today, Pfizer unilaterally announced that as of Monday it will deliver to our country about 29 percent less vaccine vials than the schedule it had shared with the Commissioner’s offices and, through him, with the Italian regions. Not only that: he unilaterally decided in which administration centers in our country he will reduce the vials sent and to what extent. A similar communication reached all EU countries. Pfizer has also announced that it cannot predict whether these minor supplies will continue in the coming weeks, much less to what extent ».
Arcuri has made it known that he has sent a formal reply to Pfizer Italia, in which “he expresses his disappointment, indicates the possible consequences of a reduction in supplies and asks for the immediate restoration of the quantities to be distributed in our country. Reserving, in the absence of answers, any consequent action in all the offices “.
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The commissioner concluded the note by saying that «Today in Italy we have reached the first million administrations, demonstrating that the vaccination campaign has been launched at a pace that is unmatched in any other EU country. The hypothesis of starting the administration of the vaccine to the “over 80”, of providing the second dose for health and social health personnel and for RSA guests, without all the necessary doses therefore brings serious harm to its continuation. And penalizing Italy is much more serious, considering the effort made so far by all the Regions to accelerate the trend of administrations ».
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