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The countdown has started but for the influenza vaccination campaign 2020/2021 – in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic – the risk is to go back to last March and face this scenario: as at that time the masks were not available in pharmacies, even now the doses to keep the virus from the flu may not be available to everyone. And those who do not fall into the so-called protected categories (immunosuppressed, chronically ill, children) required to undergo the vaccine (elderly, medical and nursing staff, law enforcement agencies) and people who are strongly recommended for inoculation (from of teachers, school personnel, and public office employees) will likely be left without. Or at least, they may have to wait until December to find a fix, with the seasonal flu already on.
What happen? With the exception of subjects at risk and who fall within the aforementioned categories, for which the Regions have requested a total of 17 million doses with an estimated increase of 43 percent by Farmindustria compared to 2019, everyone else must buy the vaccine at pharmacies and obtain it. then inject by family doctors. Who are these “others”? For example, the 40-year-old who does not have chronic diseases, is not immunosuppressed, a self-employed person who decides to protect himself more from the flu in a period in which the threat of the coronavirus has once again been felt, he could not find any dose to buy in both coming. months.
Why? In pharmacies, both public and private, the doses have been reduced compared to a year ago or are not found. The accounts are carried out by Venanzio Gizzi, president of Assofarm, the Association that represents public pharmacies in Italy. “The last State-Regions conference a couple of weeks ago – Gizzi explains – established the supply of 250 thousand doses of vaccine for the approximately 19 thousand national pharmacies, both public and private.” Each will take an average of 12 doses. Will they be enough? “No, they are not enough: in 2019 the pharmacists asked for 1,200,000 doses – continues the president of Assofarm – 850,000 were granted.” This year, however, at least for the moment, the share is reduced by 600 thousand units. “It depends on whether the Regions have asked the industries for a greater number of doses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have asked the Ministry of Health – concludes Gizzi – to review these criteria because beyond the extension of the vaccine to many others categories, people who want to protect themselves, even if they are not at risk, could be many more. ”In this sense,“ A working group has been created in which producers, Aifa and pharmacies participate – explains Massimo Scaccabarozzi, number one of Farmindustria – to try to give everyone answers. We had problems with the planning of the Regions: some bodies were ahead of time with orders, others late but the supplies will be guaranteed although at the beginning in a staggered way: if a Region, for example, has requested 2 million You will not have them all on day zero.
And meanwhile for pharmacies? “Orders are on hold,” said Emilio Croce, president of the Order of Pharmacists of Rome. Our usual suppliers – adds Rossella Danise, director of the Barberini pharmacy in the historic center of Rome – have not yet given us an answer ”. Last year “we sold 55 doses of adjuvant influenza vaccine for the weakest people and non-adjuvant vaccine in the period between October and November, it is clear – concludes the director – that if we manage to have only 12 doses this year we would not be able to attend all our audience. “The condition could also be read like this: fewer doses in pharmacies because the population between 60 and 65 years, who bought the vaccine last year, will now be able to do it for free at the family doctor. True, but there could still a vertiginous increase in demand in younger population groups precisely because with Covid more people will want to protect themselves from the flu. So? “We feel excluded from the channel – concludes the director of the Barberini pharmacy – as happened in March with masks, but we are protagonists in the area. ”Among other things, Assofarm has always asked the government for the possibility of pharmacists injecting doses to clients as occurs e in many other countries in order to increase vaccination coverage. But the proposal has not been accepted at the moment.
Last updated: 13:11 © REPRODUCTION RESERVED
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