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Read – Flu vaccine, this year even more important
This is a reaffirmation of the importance of flu vaccination, which this year will be an integral part of our anti-Covid strategy to decongest hospitals and reduce the number of people with symptoms that require staff to conduct investigations to rule out infection. COVID-19. Normally, depending on our climatic situation, the period reserved for flu vaccination runs from mid / late October to late December, when the flu epidemic is almost over and it is no longer particularly advantageous to use the vaccine. However, given the current epidemiological situation related to the circulation of SARS-CoV-2, Aifa and the Ministry of Health agree on the usefulness of anticipating vaccinations in early October, to minimize the risk of contagion since the induced protection begins. by the vaccine. about two weeks after vaccination and lasts for a period of six to eight months and then tapers off. And offer the vaccine to risk groups beyond the end of December.
Trivalent influenza vaccines, according to the determination, consist, for the 2020-21 season, of viral antigens for 2 type A strains (A / Guangdong-Maonan / SWL1536 / 2019 and A / Hong Kong / 2671/2019) and a type strain B (B / Washington / 02/2019 B / Victoria lineage). In the case of quadrivalent vaccines, the B / Phuket / 3073/2013 B / Yamagata lineage is also envisaged.
Given the importance of this year’s vaccination campaign, in addition, on the recommendation of the Ministry, the Regions have increased purchases of influenza vaccines by almost 50%, with the aim of achieving a minimum coverage of 75% of the headlines. and an optimum of 95%.
Reduced stocks
Even so, the problems are not lacking. The hoarding of vaccines for risk categories has effectively reduced the stock available to those who have to buy the drug at the pharmacy. Among these children and young people, a category particularly exposed to influenza viruses. “Every year we have about 8 million flu patients – underlined Andrea Crisanti, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Padua, during the broadcast of Agorà on Rai 3 – concentrated mainly between the ages of 4 and 15 years. Surely a child sick with the flu at this moment activates the entire anti-Covid protection mechanism that diverts so many precious resources. Many colleagues, including myself, have championed the need for influenza vaccination to be mandatory or strongly encouraged. ” A more complicated operation than expected – added the expert – because “even the vaccination services are stuck with all the vaccines that were not made last year, so it seems easy to say but not so easy to do.”
Read – Influenza, more vaccines offered by the public. But those of those who are not at risk are rare
Trade associations also intervened to confirm the lack of vaccines for the pharmacy channel. “The real risk of a shortage of influenza vaccines due to the increase in requests from the Regions for those at higher risk has made it difficult for producers to supply the channel of intermediary pharmacy distributors, through which more than a million doses”, reads a note issued by the Association of Pharmaceutical Distributors (Adf) and Federfarma Servizi, in which guarantees are requested from the Government “to ensure the supply of influenza vaccines to the warehouses of our facilities, whose involvement is essential for the necessary doses to reach everyone citizens through pharmacies and doctors ”.
A climate of uncertainty
In short, a hot front in which the Regions will have to account for the preparation activities carried out in recent months. Active Citizen has announced a survey on the subject, to verify if regional planning will be able to follow up on the indications received from the Ministry of Health and the Cts. “A still unclear situation is causing a climate of uncertainty and anxiety in the people,” explains Antonio Gaudioso, Secretary General of Cittadinanzattiva. “That is why we want to have a clear picture of the Regions and understand if we will really be ready in October for the influenza vaccination campaign that the ministry, CTS and the world of science await. Citizens are willing to do our part, it is necessary to know if everyone is ”
Purchase tenders
The request for information, made through generalized civic access (the so-called Italian Foia) refers to the result and date of the regional bids for the purchase of vaccines, the quantities purchased and also the target categories identified for vaccination against influenza 2020 . / 2021, organizational measures aimed at promoting maximum accessibility to immunizations by citizens, and measures that are intended to be prepared to face a possible lack of vaccination in pharmacies aimed at non-risk categories.
