The European Union accelerates sui anti-Covid vaccines. The vaccination campaign will start at the end of December, earlier than expected up to a few hours ago. The announcement comes directly from the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen: “It's time for Europe. Vaccination across the EU will start on 27, 28 and 29 December. We protect our citizens. We are stronger together."
Obviously, the green light from the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, must first arrive Pfizer-Biontech vaccine which has already received the go-ahead from Great Britain, Canada and the United States. According to the latest rumors, the authorization should arrive on December 23rd.
"December 27 will be a good day for Italy and for Europe – is the comment of the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza -. Prudence is still needed and the path will not be short. But with the start of vaccinations we are finally on the right track ”.
In the meantime, the Italian government begins to prepare the campaign. The extraordinary commissioner Domenico Arcuri, in these hours, will send a sort of letter to the Regions "instructions manual" for the vaccine and within the week all the indications for the administration procedure. According to forecasts, the first supply will be equal to 1.833.975 doses which will be entirely intended for healthcare personnel. Then it will be the turn of citizens over the age of 80 and subsequently of the over 60s.
Lombardy will be the region that receives the highest number of doses (304.955), followed by Emilia Romagna (183.138 doses), Lazio (179.818), Piedmont (170.995), Veneto (164.278) and Campania (135.890). In the queue the Valle d'Aosta with 3.334 doses.
Returning to Brussels, the start of the vaccination campaign is not the only news that arrived today. A spokesman for the Commission announced that the "Exploratory talks with Novavax for the purchase of any anti-Covid vaccine "which is currently under development. The EU will buy "100 million doses with the option for another 100 million".
