«IThe vaccine will be the most awaited Christmas gift for Italians, because after 48, maximum 72 hours from EMA approval of the Pfizer one, scheduled for December 23, there will be the approval of our national regulatory agency, AIFA, and we will be able to start the vaccination campaign before the new year ». Without hitches, since “a very careful and rigorous work of planning distribution and administration is being done”. The timing is not unbalanced, “because it depends on how many doses we receive from the manufacturer”. Professor Franco Locatelli, president of the Higher Health Council and scientist among the most listened to by the CTS, sees pink on the upcoming vaccination campaign. Although he admits that the AstraZeneca vaccine “may require additional studies that would involve months of study.”
Before New Year’s Eve, therefore, the first vaccinations will also start from us. Is Italy ready or will it just be the cutting of a ribbon?
«The number of doses we will administer will be equal to those we will receive, first from Pfizer, then from other companies as the other authorizations arrive. But I can assure you that a dose will not be wasted. All the details are being studied to ensure distribution and administration taking into account the storage requirements of the vials, which will be guaranteed thanks also to the close dialogue between the commissioner and Pfizer itself “.
What membership is expected of health professionals. If there were few to get vaccinated, would the obligation be necessary for them at least?
«I remain convinced that for health personnel, as well as for the entire population, it is essential to start an information and awareness campaign. However, I am perfectly in agreement with the president of the Order of doctors, Filippo Anelli, when today he spoke of a deontological obligation for health professionals ».
What can also become the law?
«Of course, when you take care of the health of others you have to protect those who rely on you as well as yourself. To carry out a certain activity, getting vaccinated can be considered a pre-requisite for practicing the profession. But I remain convinced that we will have a good response not only from health professionals. Just today I read with great pleasure a survey that reveals that over 80% of Italians are in favor of vaccination. A sign that the country has already understood that only the vaccine will allow us to achieve herd immunity and thus recover our sociability ».
But how far are we to reach the goal?
«To obtain herd immunity, which then prevents the virus from circulating, 70% of the population must be immunized. We are talking about 42 million people. But even before reaching the final objective, the situation will progressively improve, as new doses arrive in parallel with the new authorizations ».
Some vaccines like those of AstraZeneca and Sanofi are already overdue …
«If there were any delays, we will have some repercussions on the vaccination campaign. But the speed with which we can see the situation improve will also depend on the protective capacity of the vaccines, that is, if they determine immunity from the disease or if they will have a sterilizing effect. That is, to prevent contagion. Clear that in the latter case the circulation of the virus would be more limited ».
And what do the studies on upcoming vaccines say?
«The data provided by Moderna to the American FDA highlight the vaccine’s ability to prevent viral circulation. From pre-clinical studies it was thought that this was also the case for the Pfizer vaccine. But a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine refers to a field check of its possible ability to prevent contagion and not just the disease ».
But when we hear about 90% rather than 60% efficacy, does it mean that depending on the vaccine we will be more or less protected from the consequences of the infection?
“No, it means that as is already the case with other vaccines, a portion of the population may not be immunized. But those who are immunized are always protected from the important symptoms of the disease, even if they can remain infected. Studies are encouraging. A beautiful graph shows how after 12 days the curve of symptomatic infections of the volunteers who were injected with the Pfizer vaccine remains flat, while that of the subjects who were given the placebo rises vertically “.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine showed 90% efficacy but with the half dose administered by mistake to a group of volunteers under 55. Could we start vaccinating them pending a survey supplement on older people?
«This depends on what the regulatory agencies decide. If they indicate that it is effective for those under 55, they will. I believe additional studies will be needed. Why allow me to say it clearly: even in an emergency situation like this, bureaucratic and administrative times have been shortened but no step has been skipped to verify the safety and efficacy of vaccines “.
Just as the American FDA has not authorized the vaccine for children under 16 on which it has not been tested, do you think that the EMA in Europe will decide the same?
“This is also a choice that is up to the regulatory agencies, which, in order to authorize drugs and vaccines in children, however, want to examine the data of the trials on these age groups. New studies will be conducted. But at this stage, the priority is not to vaccinate young people of pediatric age, but the elderly of the RSA, over eighty and who must guarantee them and all of us health care ».
Why could a third wave also hinder the vaccination campaign?
“We could have more infected people among the health professionals who have to administer vaccinations but also among those who should be immunized. And this would delay the programs moving forward the expected return to normality and the country’s economic recovery ».
Would you act as a testimonial by getting vaccinated immediately?
«If I am asked not from tomorrow but from yesterday morning. I am a staunch supporter of vaccination. And right now it is the real weapon we have at our disposal to get out of this situation ».
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