ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s government has urged regions to prioritise COVID-19 vaccinations for those aged between 12 and 18, in an effort to extend the campaign before schools and sports activities restart across the country.
In a letter addressed to regional governors, seen by Reuters, the government’s special COVID Commissioner Francesco Paolo Figliuolo on Wednesday called on the regions to vaccinate youngsters without them requiring a reservation.
“In order to fast-track vaccinations among the 12 to 18-year-olds … you should give them priority even if they don’t have a booking,” Figliuolo wrote, saying the new policy should apply from Aug. 16.
Italy’s 20 regional governments have front-line responsibility for organising and carrying out inoculations.
Some 40% of around 4.6 million Italians aged below 19 have had at least one vaccine dose and around 23% are fully inoculated, latest government data show.
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are the only COVID-19 shots approved for adolescents in Italy.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi pledged last week that the school year would begin in September with face-to-face classes, and he has made it mandatory for teachers to have proof of immunity from the virus.
As of Aug. 11 some 66% of Italians had received at least one shot against COVID-19, of whom 56% were fully vaccinated. The figures are broadly in line with those of most continental European countries.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Gavin Jones and David Holmes)
