“It is precisely the frail elderly who must be protected more with the anti-Covid vaccine. The figure of 23 deaths reported by Norway”, precisely among elderly patients in nursing homes in the country who had been vaccinated, “seems strange to me. It is singular that it only occurred in Norway and that in the rest of the world there is no report of this type and magnitude “. Massimo Clementi, director of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology of the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, and a professor at the same University, explains this to Adnkronos Salute, commenting on the report received from Norway on post-vaccine deaths in nursing homes.
“I don’t think they are related to vaccination – speculates Clementi – There have also been similar episodes in Italy. Some deaths were reported after the flu vaccination and the supply of those batches of vaccine used was even blocked. Then it was ascertained that the deaths were not connected. . We will see what the conclusions will be in this case. But it is strange that such a figure comes from a single country and I think it is plausible that we will come to ascertain that there is no connection “with the shield injection.
LOCKDOWN HYPOTHESIS – “I would look badly at a new hard lockdown. Because in my opinion there is no need, nor would it be useful at this time given the results of the measures taken so far. The progress of the Sars-CoV-2 epidemic is quite independent of the severity of measures, we have seen in recent times. Then everyone obviously has their own ideas. But I believe that lockdowns also have a different value: political, social, scholastic and other implications that I am not able to fully define . But I think the impact is heavy. If we want to reach a social break, perhaps this is the right way. “
Interviewed by Adnkronos Salute, the virologist expresses himself in relation to the ongoing debate among experts in recent days. On the table the challenge of paving the way for the distant goal of herd immunity by keeping the circulation of the virus low. A complicated undertaking that pushes some to envisage the opportunity of new temporary blocks. “However – observes Clementi – I don’t see worrying indicators at the moment. Anything can happen, it must be specified. But it seems to me that there is a relative control of the situation in Italy”.
For the expert “it is not so much what we should be looking at, but the trend of vaccination. The fact that Israel yesterday highlighted that it had a benefit in the epidemic curve from having reached 23% of the vaccinated population means a lot. it hints at what could happen to us if we continue to vaccinate with a good trend “.
VACCINATION IN ITALY – “It seems to me that we are moving from the phase of priority anti-Covid vaccination to health workers to a greater territoriality of the vaccine and in fact, for example, RSAs are being immunized. We need to move forward, gradually start to go down. it will be necessary to involve the general population and call people by age group. Hopefully, we must try to reach the over 50s and vaccinate them all before the summer “.
The director of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology of the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, and a professor at the same University, is optimistic: “It can be done, if you want,” he assures Adnkronos Salute. According to the expert, initiatives such as that of the head of Anesthesia and Intensive Care of San Raffaele, Alberto Zangrillo, to form a team of professionals and go to vaccinate an RSA, “are the expression of what will need to be done. Get busy all” , explains the virologist.
“The only funnel – he reflects – could be the availability of vaccines. But it is clear that in the meantime other shield products will also begin to come into play, different from the two we have at the moment. I also see alliances between competing pharmaceutical companies as appropriate. push production. We are seeing with Pfizer that there can be problems of this type and that there can be help from other companies seems important to me. ” France has announced that a similar route is being considered, for example. “It would be good if it were also done in Italy – observes Clementi – There are structures that have the potential to make a contribution”.
“We can vaccinate those who have had Sars-CoV-2 infection without problems. There is no data on the absence of risks, but not even on the opposite of this, that is, on the fact that it can create problems. So let’s vaccinate everyone and as quickly as possible possible “he says about the debate that is taking place regarding the opportunity of administering the shield injection without making distinctions between those who are susceptible to the virus because they have never met it and those who have a history of contagion behind them.
“In reality – Clementi points out to Adnkronos Salute – if, for example, a child who has had measles is vaccinated, nothing happens, on the contrary, his immune response is better redirected which, after a certain period, could be insufficient and last a few months. “.
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