• Vaccini, Garattini: "It is wrong to immunize young people. Priority to the elderly and the frail"

  • Campania, De Luca says no to the mix of vaccines

  • Vaccines, government: the campaign will proceed with the same intensity as before

  • Vaccines, issued by the ministry circular: AZ only to over 60. Recalls for under 60 to mRNA

  • Ema and WHO: "Always report adverse effects after vaccinations".

    "Effective and safe vaccines"

  • Locatelli: "AstraZeneca to over 60. Under 60 vaccines to mRna"

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June 14, 2021 Heterologous vaccination, i.e. the use of a second dose with a different anti-Covid vaccine than the one used for the first administration, is safe and there are studies that show how it can give an even better immune response. To reassure the new approach, adopted after the AstraZeneca vaccine stop for the under-60s - who now, if already vaccinated with this vaccine, will carry out the booster with a different immunizer, with mRNA - is the same Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza . But

the experts remain divided

between those who judge this solution as positive and those who instead invite us to deepen.   



The minister's position on the path that, on the basis of scientific evaluations, it was decided to follow is clear: "Heterologous vaccination - he said during a meeting with journalists - is already used by important countries such as Germany by various weeks, but also in other areas of the world, and the results are encouraging. There are some studies that testify that the immune response is even better than that with two doses of the same vaccine. "



It is clear, again underlined Speranza, that "when, as happened, the scientific authorities of our country all together reaffirm an indication of this type, I think that as always we must rely on scientists". On the same position is Sergio Abrignani, immunologist of the University of Milan and member of the Scientific Technical Committee (Cts). Heterologous vaccination, says the expert, "is not an experiment. We know that they are extremely safe vaccines. For all the works published abroad with the combination of the two vaccines, we know that they are safe and indeed improve the immune response".



For this reason,

Abrignani defines "nonsense" to say that one is guinea pig in the face of the use of the vaccine mix

. And again, referring to the stop at AstraZeneca for the under-60s, "we are trying, with the principle of maximum caution, to eliminate an extremely rare risk - he said - by having an alternative which are RNA vaccines. It seems that vaccines are the problem of the country, it is incorrect to put it this way. Vaccines are the solution to this pandemic. To think that what we have suggested is an ingenuity is profoundly wrong ".   



Different opinion of the virologist of the University of Milan Fabrizio Pregliasco who, while 'clearing' the vaccination mix between the first and second dose, however, underlines the need for an attitude of caution. "I believe that this mix can be done and several studies already present confirm this, but it is clear - he warns - that these are studies on small numbers and that they do not evaluate adverse events in the medium term. For this, a series of in-depth studies are still needed. that officially formalize this possibility ".



In light of the "precautionary choice that has been made with respect to the AstraZeneca vaccine, to minimize even the slightest existing risks - he reiterated - I think that the mix strategy can be implemented, but at the same time some in-depth studies must be made".   



As for the

'no' to heterologous vaccination arrived yesterday from the president of Campania Vincenzo de Luca

, "elements of dystonia between regions create even greater disaffection with vaccines on the part of people and it would be more appropriate today than ever - concludes Pregliasco - a homogeneous behavior".



Bonetti: "The Regions should follow the indications of science"


The word confusion must be brought back to a clear and precise vaccination campaign that is giving important results. Minister Speranza gave precise indications that come from the CTS, indications that the regions are invited to follow. It is now a priority to continue with the vaccination campaign, with that efficiency that we have all experienced. We have safety indications that must be followed because they concern the health of citizens, especially the youngest ". Thus the Minister for equal opportunities and the family, Elena Bonetti, on Radio Capital. The minister replies to the president of Campania De Luca who stopped boosters with another vaccine after the first dose of AstraZeneca: "The invitation for all regions is to refer to medical indications. Politics is responsible for the organization,but I do not allow myself to enter into scientific evaluations. Surely there was an overlap of information, but in less than a year we had a vaccine that saved the lives of many women and men, from this point of view the medicine was clear. We must reaffirm our confidence in science ".



Toti: Liguria will align itself with Cts indications


The Liguria Region will go ahead slavishly following what is requested by the Cts and the Ministry of Health: the recalls of AstraZeneca under the age of 60 will be made with another type of 'freeze' vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna, we will continue to vaccinate over the age of 60 with AstraZeneca ". The president of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti explained to 'Mattino Cinque' on Canale 5." We will continue the recalls over the age of 60 with AstraZeneca, we follow the indications as we had followed using AstraZeneca under 60 - he reiterated -. In Liguria there have been no covid deaths for two days, a sign that the vaccination campaign somehow works, we try to fix it without further damage ".



Lazio, Zingaretti: "We will follow the government and CTS indications"


"Very clear indications have been given at this point: to ban AstraZeneca to under 60s. I think it is even more useful to follow the instructions of the CTS and the government. Within a framework that confirms one thing, however: vaccines work. In many Regions zero deaths have been reached. Deaths collapse, the infectious curve and intensive therapy. The vaccination campaign has therefore worked. This indication, taken from the government, we must take it into consideration. Even if the government itself has said that it is precautionary. But now we are in a position to respect it. " This was stated by the President of the Lazio Region Nicola Zingaretti, speaking to Rai News 24.