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ROME – The European Medicines Agency will meet on December 21 to decide on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The tight schedule, four days before Christmas, became official at the end of a morning characterized by German pressure, when the image online had been relaunched on December 26 as a useful date for the first administrations (with the approval granted on 23 instead of 29, previously named date). The EMA said it had made the decision after receiving more data from the drug’s manufacturers. If necessary – says the European Medicines Agency – the appointment of December 29 will stand anyway.
“The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use – the EMA specifies – will conclude its evaluation as soon as possible and only once the data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine are sufficiently robust and complete to determine whether the benefits of the vaccine they exceed their risks. ” Once the CHMP has granted the authorization, “the European Commission will speed up the decision-making process to grant a marketing authorization valid in all Member States within a few days.”
On Twitter, the immediate applause of the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen: “Every day – writes in the post – account” in the fight against time “to authorize safe and effective vaccines for Covid 19” and the EU he is working “at full speed”. For this reason “I welcome the news from the EMA” that “anticipates their meeting before Christmas to discuss the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.” “Probably the first Europeans will be vaccinated at the end of 2020!”
Guido Rasi, former CEO of EMA, confirms the timeline: “The planned transition to the European Commission for the final approval of the Pfizer-BionTech anti-Covid vaccine could in all probability take place within 48 hours after the green light of theMother“At that time”, the vaccine would be usable from the next day in the EU countries – he says – and if the distribution machine and logistics are ready, and with the immediate contextual validation of Aifa, the campaign could begin vaccination in Italy. already on December 28-29 “.
Italy’s wishes
“My hope is that the EMA, complying with all safety procedures, can approve the Pfizer Biontech vaccine earlier than expected and that vaccinations can also start in European Union countries as soon as possible.” Roberto Speranza, Minister of Health, is pushing to speed up the time and start vaccination against Covid as soon as possible.
Walter Ricciardi, a consultant to the ministry, emphasizes that “if health professionals do not get vaccinated, I am out of obligation.” The professor explains that this year the flu vaccination campaign “has gone very well, in some regions we have exceeded 70%, the same result can be achieved for Covid with a promotional mix. But if this has no effect. It is important to insert a clause that obliges health personnel, who are in close contact with the public and protect themselves, but also others, to make vaccination mandatory ”.
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Cts and restrictions
Meanwhile, shortly after 1:00 p.m., the technicians of the Scientific Technical Committee met to develop the indications on a possible new tightening for the Christmas holidays. The government is waiting for the Cts take the decision to convene a new summit between Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and the heads of delegation of the majority forces and decide on a repression that now seems inevitable. Later, probably between tomorrow and Thursday, the government will see the Regions to discuss the decisions taken.
The idea of closing everything, during the high days of the holidays, following the model of what is happening in Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries is becoming increasingly important at Palazzo Chigi. Therefore, the whole of Italy could turn into a red or orange zone on holidays and days before holidays: December 24-27, December 31-January 3, January 5-6. A hypothesis already advanced during another summit that took place on Sunday night: we are therefore going to a further hardening to keep gatherings, infections and movements under control. Which could also affect, as mentioned, next weekend, December 19-20, considered high risk for the movements planned by millions of Italians.
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Ricciardi also leans in favor of blocking. “If this continues – he says – everything must be closed. When only recommendations are made – he explains – people do everything that is allowed, and this reduces the infection by only 3%. With this rate we will never achieve it, not only in flatten epidemic curve, but to reduce it. On the other hand – he observes – the confinement is reduced by 15%, and with other interventions we have halved infections. ”Then he adds:” In view of the Christmas holidays, clear measures to limit mobility and meetings, and avoid unsustainable pressure on health services. “
The hard line
The Health Minister shares these positions and in the government he is in favor of the “hard” line that should lead to the Christmas closing. Endorsed by the Scientific Technical Committee. The “tough” position also emerged from yesterday’s meeting between the prime minister Giuseppe Conte, the interior minister Luciana Lamorgese, the majority heads of delegation and some members of the Scientific Technical Committee. “The decision has not yet been made. Last night during the discussion, they spoke of very strict measures that serve to slow down people’s movements much more. Measures such as that of the red and orange areas ”, he explains however Sandra Zampa, Undersecretary of Health. “The effort that the CTS was asked yesterday is of the utmost clarity – he adds – A new confinement is not a red zone. Certainly, while the rest of the countries went in this direction with us, they did not, but the curve has not dropped enough is necessary. “
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