[ad_1]
The long awaited Covid-19 vaccine has finally arrived. On December 27, the first vials of the drug developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and authorized by the European Commission on the recommendation of the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, were distributed in the countries of the European Union, including Italy, for which the commissioner extraordinary for emergency Domenico Arcuri defined a “symbolic” day.
Now that the vaccine has arrived, however, there are many questions people ask about the times and the ways the vaccination plan will be administered. We try to clarify thanks to the information published on the website of the Ministry of Health and on that of AIFA.
PRIORITY CATEGORIES
Who will get the vaccine first?
In the initial phase, which will last about three months, the categories of people that have been identified as a priority for vaccination are: health and social workers, that is, those who have a higher risk of exposure to Covid-19 infection and transmit it in turn; residents and staff of residential care centers for the elderly (so-called RSA), who are among the people most affected by Covid-19 due to their high age, previous pathologies and the need for assistance even just to feed themselves risk also the staff who take care of them); elderly people, because “given the high probability of developing a serious disease and the consequent recourse to admission to intensive or sub-intensive care, this population group represents a priority for vaccination”.
I belong to the categories considered priority. How can I access the vaccination?
In the first phase, people who fall into the priority categories will not have to register or reserve, but “will be contacted by call active “.
In the circular of December 24, “Recommendations for the organization of the vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 and vaccination procedures”, it is stated that “it is necessary to organize vaccination activities in vaccination centers complementary to those already present for routine vaccination activities. ” These are identified and divided into: Hospital vaccination points, reserved for the administration of vaccination to health and social workers of health establishments; Territorial vaccination points, for health workers who carry out out-of-hospital activities (for example, general practitioners); Vaccination points in residential facilities, which will allow the administration of the vaccine within the same RSA.
The Population Vaccination Points, which will be used in the later phases of the vaccination campaign, are not included for the time being, considering that the rest of the population may undergo the vaccine at a later time (they are those discussed in the last days that should be in the form of great primroses and that should be installed in the squares of the city).
I am immunosuppressed. Can I get the vaccine and when?
On people with immunodeficiency or who are being treated with immunomodulatory drugs, the Ministry of Health says there is limited data. However, “although these subjects may not respond as well to the vaccine, there are no particular safety concerns.” In addition, according to the provisions of the Strategic Plan, these categories of people “should be vaccinated in the early stages, since they are more likely to become ill with COVID-19.”
Can children get the vaccine?
The vaccine currently in circulation, the one manufactured by Pfizer BioNTech and approved by the EMA, is currently not recommended for children under 16 years of age, who therefore will not be part of the early stages of the vaccination plan. “The European Agency, as well as the rest of international agencies, await more studies to authorize vaccination in the pediatric population,” reads the website of the Ministry of Health.
VACCINE ADMINISTRATION
Is the vaccine mandatory?
The government has repeatedly announced that it has no intention of making vaccination mandatory, although it has made it known that membership rates for citizens will be assessed during the campaign. The goal is to achieve a herd immunity that can be achieved with 80% of the vaccinated population.
“As of April 1, we could have 13 million vaccinated and thus we would have already reached Phase One, which is the one that allows us to have the first epidemiological impact,” said Health Minister Roberto Speranza. At the moment, however, the Government does not intend to make vaccination mandatory, even if the participation rate of citizens will be evaluated during the campaign.
How many doses does it take to make me immune?
Both for the vaccine produced by Pfizer BioNTech, the only one currently approved by the EMA and which is already in circulation, as well as for other vaccines in the approval phase, two doses are currently planned a few weeks apart depending on the type of vaccine. Also for the second administration will proceed to call.
If I have adverse reactions, who should I contact?
Reporting of any reactions to the administration of the vaccine can be made to your family doctor or local ASL, as well as all other adverse reactions to any medication.
In addition, anyone can report an adverse reaction to a vaccine in the first person using the forms posted on the AIFA website. The same Agency, then, “will promote the launch of some independent post-authorization studies on COVID-19 vaccines.”
VACCINE SCHEDULE
How is the vaccination schedule structured?
At the moment the vaccination plan foresees four stages: a first phase, that of this first quarter, dedicated – as already mentioned – to health and social health workers, staff and guests of residential centers for the elderly and over 80 years; the second phase will be aimed at men and women between 60 and 79 years old and people with at least one chronic comorbidity. In spring and summer it will presumably be the turn of teachers and school personnel, and other categories of the population belonging to essential services such as law enforcement, prison staff and community venues. In the fourth trimester, everyone else should get vaccinated. It is a growing process: “vaccines – says the Ministry of Health – will be offered to the whole population, according to an order of priority, which takes into account the risk of disease, the types of vaccines and their availability.
I have already contracted Covid-19. Can I get the vaccine and, if so, when?
As stated on the AIFA website, “vaccination does not contrast with a previous COVID-19 infection, on the contrary it strengthens your immune memory, so no test before vaccination is useful. However, those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 do not need vaccination in the first phase of the vaccination campaign, although it could be considered when obtaining data on the duration of immunological protection ”. Therefore, those who have already had the coronavirus will be able to get vaccinated, but only after people considered to be at higher risk.
I am a pregnant woman, do I have the right to be vaccinated before others? Are there any risks?
“Data on the use of the vaccine during pregnancy are still very limited, but laboratory studies in animal models have shown no harmful effects in pregnancy,” says the Agency for Medicines. “The vaccine is not contraindicated and does not exclude pregnant women from vaccination, because pregnancy, especially when combined with other risk factors such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, could increase the risk of COVID-19 The Istituto Superiore di Sanità has a surveillance system for pregnant women in relation to COVID-19 that could offer more useful information. Although there are no studies on breastfeeding, based on biological plausibility, there is no risk that prevent continued breastfeeding. In general, the use of the vaccine during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be decided in close consultation with a healthcare professional after considering the benefits and risks, “concludes AIFA.
[ad_2]
