Vaccinate 80% of Italians by September 2021. This is the goal of the plan of the new extraordinary commissioner for the emergency Covid-19, Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, called by the Prime Minister Draghi to replace Dominic Arcuri. As reported on the new vaccine plan, the prerequisites for conducting a rapid vaccination campaign identified by Son there are three: one effective distribution and timely vaccines, a needs monitoring and to the supplies constant and an increase in daily capacity di administration. This last point is quite important, as Figliuolo aims at administering at least 500.000 doses of the vaccine per day. If this ability were achieved, an extraordinary result would be achieved. To date, the average administration (first and second dose) is approximately 170 thousand per day. Reaching 500.000 vaccinated per day in Italy it is therefore a decidedly ambitious goal, but not impossible.

vaccinate 80% of Italians by September - foreground of General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo
Photo: © Ministry of Defense.

What does Figliuolo's plan foresee to vaccinate 80% of Italians by September

In the document of the vaccination plan of General Figliuolo, it is reported that to date they have been supplied in Italy 7,9 million doses. These should then double by the first week of April. TO June, on the other hand, Italy should have 52 million doses, while others are expected to arrive at the end of the summer 84 million vaccines.1,5% of the doses will however be used as reserve, to face the unforeseen needs. With these numbers, according to Figliuolo's plan, 80% of Italians should be vaccinated by September. Furthermore, to carry out the vaccine administrations, i general practitioners (up to 44 thousand), the dentists (up to 60 thousand), i resident doctors (up to 23 thousand) and i sports doctors, thanks to a government agreement with the CONI. Lastly, the enhancement of information technology (in the short term) will guarantee a better service for reservations.

vaccinate 80% of Italians by September - doctor vaccine patient
Photo: © Unsplash.

General Figliuolo's best ally to be able to vaccinate 80% of Italians by September is Johnson & Johnson vaccine, recently approved by the EMA. The great ease of transport (and storage) of the drug and the use of a single dose for immunity make it the best candidate to speed up the vaccine plan and reach the goal. Italy will receive some 6,5 million doses in the near future, which will triple in the second quarter. A problem is given instead by AstraZeneca. Despite the reassurance of many virologists, the deaths of some people who had received this vaccine meant that thousands collected their booking. Even if we investigate some lots (promptly withdrawn), to date no link has been ascertained between these deaths and the vaccine. Will the AstraZeneca case slow Figliuolo's plans? It is too early to tell. The goal is, however, theherd immunity and summer is (almost) around the corner.

Covid: vaccinate 80% of Italians by September last edit: 2021-03-14T17:02:24+01:00 da Antonello Ciccarello

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