The Lombardy Region changed its position within a few hours on the recall of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people under 60 years of age: it will comply with the indication of the Ministry of Health and will proceed with the administration of the second dose using a different vaccine, in particular Pfizer or Moderna.
Lombardy Region has decided to provide for the so-called “heterologous vaccination”, ie with a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for those under 60 who have received Astrazeneca as the first dose.
Yesterday and today the people who were in this case, or with less than 60 years and a dose of Astrazeneca given 9 to 11 weeks ago and who had an appointment for the second dose, were sent home.
“The reorganization of the vaccination program will take place in the short time necessary on the basis of the vaccine doses available” – the Lombardy Region reported to Ansa.
The question of the second dose with a different vaccine than the first was faced by Spain about three weeks ago and since then we have proceeded with heterologous vaccination for the Under 60s. As reported by the Sky news news 24 of May 19, A clinical study by the Carlos III Health Institute, a Spanish public body reports that administering the anti-Covid vaccine of Pfizer as a second dose to people who received the first of AstraZeneca it is safe and increases the immune response. 673 volunteers participated in the study (221 as a control group). These conclusions were explained by the project managers in a press conference reported by the Iberian media. “We can only conclude that administering a booster dose is highly immunogenic and safe,” summarized Jesús Antonio Frías, one of the researchers responsible for the study. Frías added that the “adverse reactions” found are “similar to those in cases where a single vaccine was administered” and “in no case serious”.
But the news of the last few days and, above all, the continuous changes of decision by the regulatory bodies, have created doubts among the people who find themselves in the indicated situation: in Lombardy, according to data cited by Corriere.it about 180 thousand vaccinated with the first dose of Astrazeneca in the months of March and April, with a recall set between June and July, among them there are many teachers and local police officers.
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