From December 1, Italy wants to offer booster vaccinations against Covid-19 to people between 40 and 60 years of age. “The third dose is absolutely strategic for progress in the vaccination campaign,” said Health Minister Roberto Speranza on Wednesday at a question time in the Chamber of Deputies in Rome. The booster, according to his ministry, is for those who have had their full vaccination at least six months ago. The booster vaccination had already been offered to around 2.5 million people as of Wednesday, according to Speranza.
In Italy, booster vaccinations have started for vulnerable groups, people over 60, health workers and those who had previously received the single vaccination from Johnson & Johnson. The more countries progress in boosting, the better the pandemic can be controlled in autumn and winter, said Speranza. The number of cases from Germany, for example, shows that this remains a challenge.
According to the Italian Ministry of Health, as of Wednesday were almost 84 percent of those over twelve were vaccinated. The health authorities in Italy reported almost 7,900 new corona infections and 60 deaths with the virus within one day on Wednesday.