Influenza vaccines, investigation of the Prosecutor’s Office on purchases from the Lombardy Region

The Milan prosecutor Opened a fact-finding investigation inbuying flu vaccines since Lombardy region at a price higher than the market price. The file, which has neither investigated nor a crime title, will be coordinated by the deputy prosecutor. Maurizio romanelli together with the pool that manages and deals with crimes related to public administration. Yesterday, the director general of the Department of Social Welfare of the Lombardy Region, Marco Trivelli, responding to a question about the controversy about the price at which flu vaccines were bought in Lombardy, replied: “We made purchases in several stages. Let’s say that 85 percent of our supplies were made at market prices and the last batch at a higher price. The market is now varied. Suffice it to say that pharmacies now cannot buy drugs, this shows how different the market is now and how difficult it is to move right now, “added Trivelli, who asked him if the higher price paid. dose is due to the fact that the Region has been delayed in seeking supplies

In recent days it became known that despite a double price compared to the first calls and the promise of an advance of 15 million euros the tender launched in early September by Lombardy region for the urgent purchase of 1.5 million doses of flu vaccine it had not been granted, so the last chance to remedy a situation that seems increasingly disastrous had failed. Because in the region most affected by the first wave of COVID-19, public facilities may not have enough vaccines to offer free to all at risk people whose flu vaccine is highly recommended this year. That was until a few days ago only 2.3 million incoming doses, before an audience that the Region considered by 2.7 million, even the base Gimbe rose to 3.4 million. Lack of vaccines coupled with delays: the vaccination campaign, which according to ministerial indications should have started at the beginning of October, as the ilfattoquotidiano.it telephone calls to various vaccination centers have shown. The fault is not only in a market where suppliers have already exhausted their production capacity in a short time, but also in an initial chain of three wrong calls Attributable to regional leaders and the Fontana-Gallera couple.

The Region announced yesterday that the vaccination campaign will start from Monday October 19 and that the first free administrations will be aimed at frail patients, pregnant women, RSA guests and a first party over 65 years of age. Therefore, in November it will be the turn of health workers, children from six months to 6 years and those over 60. “To date, the Region You have already purchased 2,884 million doses versus an additional and recommended maximum free requirement of 2,768 million. This means that the supply of vaccines is not only in line with the need, but even greater, ”said Marco Trivelli, director general of the Department of Regional Welfare. For the general manager, therefore, there will be “sPazio to also under-supply pharmacies and allow non-target groups to be vaccinated voluntarily“While supplies will also be guaranteed to operators of private health establishments. The influenza vaccines will be provided by general practitioners and, as a novelty this year, also by pediatricians involved in the campaign, in vaccination centers and hospitals for pregnant women. Finally, in the places identified by the Municipalities to ensure distancing, such as gyms, civic centers and tensile structures (in Milan it will be installed in Piazza Duomo).