Rome: Italy has begun managing the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, after a booster shot received the official green light from the State Medicine Agent (AIFA).
When the Ministry of Health announced earlier this month, the third dose of the Pfizer-Biontonech or Moderna vaccine would be offered to people with a fragile immune system, reported the Xinhua news agency.
This includes not only those who are compromised by Immuno, but also parents and residents in care homes.
Based on the guidelines issued by AIFA, health service workers will also receive booster shots.
The third dose will be offered as an option, because vaccination against Coronavirus is highly recommended but not mandatory in Italy.
AIFA recommends that third shots must be available at least 28 days after the previous dose for the people who are compromised by Immuno.
For those aged 80, people who live in care homes, and health professionals, the third dose will be considered “booster to maintain an effective immune response”, and must be given at least 6 months after their last dose.
Overall, AIFA and the Ministry of Health have emphasized that national priorities must remain to ensure that the majority of populations are vaccinated.
Until now, around 76 percent of the target population (those above 12) have been fully immunized, while 82 percent have received at least one dose, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
Because the pandemic broke out in Italy in February 2020, the country has registered 4,638,516 confirmed Coronavirus cases, with 130,354 deaths and 4.4 million recovery.