If people under the age of 60, after receiving a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine,
refuse to take the second dose of an mRna vaccine
, they can have a second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine,
after signing an informed consent
.
This was announced by the Ministry of Health in a circular in which it states that according to the Scientific Technical Committee, the priority indication remains the second dose with an mRna vaccine.
The circular concerns in particular the "administration of the second vaccine dose with respect to those people under the age of 60 who, after having received the first dose of Vaxzevria vaccine, refuse crossing to the mRNA vaccine and declare that they wish to continue the booster with the same vaccine used for the first dose ". The circular also notes that "as highlighted by the CTS, without prejudice to the priority indication of second dose with mRNA vaccine,
inspired by a principle of maximum caution
aimed at preventing the onset of VITT phenomena in subjects at low risk of developing serious Covid-19 pathology and at a principle of fairness that requires to ensure that all subjects equal conditions in the balance of benefits / risks, if a subject under the age of 60 years, after having received the first dose of Vaxzevria vaccine, even in the face of documented and accurate information provided by the vaccinating physician or by the operators of the vaccination center on the risks of VITT, refusals without possibility of convincing, crossing to mRNA vaccine, , after obtaining adequate informed consent, the second dose of Vaxzevria can be administered ". For the Ministry of Health" this option is coherent and balanced by the benefit deriving from theelimination of the risk associated with the partial protection conferred by the administration of a single dose of Vaxzevria ".
The single-dose vaccine from Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
is recommended "for people over 60 years of age
", in the light of the opinion expressed by the Technical Scientific Committee and as defined by the Technical Scientific Commission of the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifs).
The Ministry of Health indicates this in a circular.
The same vaccine can also be used in subjects under the age of 60 in particular situations, such as "specific vaccination campaigns for non-resident populations and / or characterized by high labor mobility and, more generally, for the so-called hard to reach ".
The Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, today sent a request for a formal opinion to the Technical-Scientific Committee
"regarding the modalities and terms of the permanence of the obligation to wear respiratory protective devices outdoors". This was announced by the ministry.
