Italy to start administering second COVID booster to over-60s

ROME (Reuters) – Italy will quickly begin its marketing campaign to manage a second COVID-19 booster to everybody aged over 60, the well being minister stated on Monday, after receiving a inexperienced gentle from European Union well being companies.

The European suggestion got here on Monday amid a brand new rise in infections and hospitalisations throughout Europe and was anticipated to facilitate nationwide selections to hurry up vaccination campaigns, which have been slowing in latest months.

Well being Minister Roberto Speranza stated the federal government had already given the go-ahead to Italy’s 20 regional administrations to start out the second booster marketing campaign, after the approval of nationwide medication company AIFA.

“All of the scientific proof … reveals that an additional dose of booster can significantly shield folks, particularly the frail and aged, from hospitalisation,” Speranza informed state broadcaster Rai.

Italy noticed coronavirus circumstances rise in July. The variety of each day infections final week surpassed 100,000 for the primary time since February and hospital admissions are additionally seen rising.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Modifying by Sandra Maler)