D.to date, even people over 60 and the frail over 12 years can receive the fourth dose of the Covid vaccine, or more precisely the second booster of the vaccine. Increase the number of vaccinated with “fourth dose”, in order to protect the most fragile population and reduce the number of hospitalizations: this is the main objective of the Institutional campaign of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and of the Ministry of Health started from July 2022.
Fourth dose: why it is needed
The fourth dose or second booster dose makes you necessary “given the persistence of the covid-19 emergency, with the risk that the virus suffers new mutations and in consideration of the fact that 4 months after the first booster dose there is a clear reduction in vaccination coverage“. These are the official reasons reported by the Ministry of Health that should not leave open doubts. Protecting the most fragile that could have serious consequences in case of infection is the reason that should push everyone to request a reservation. The administration of a second booster doseindeed, “Restores vaccination coverage and it’s fundamental for the protection of the most fragile subjects, more exposed to the risk of severe Covid-19 disease.
Fourth dose free also in the pharmacy
At the Institutional campaign of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and of the Ministry of Health about 9 thousand pharmacies are members who are still dealing with the requests of the over 80s. From today, depending on the Regions, the pharmacies they have also opened reservations for the over 60s and the more fragile over 12s. In any case, to book it is necessary to register on the regional portal, even if some Regions provide different methods also to meet the difficulties that many people, not only the elderly, can encounter on the web. Obviously the vaccine is and remains free wherever you book it, in the Hubs or in the pharmacy.
The service pharmacy
“It is important that vaccine reservations are made easier and affordable for everyone, not just online,” explains the Doctor Giovanni Merincola of the Metalla Pharmacy in Milan, one of the few that at the moment have made themselves available to carry out the vaccine. “The pharmacy must increasingly be a service center for the citizen, but not all of them can afford to become a vaccination center because certain requirements such as large spaces and adequate staff are needed,” explains the doctor. Are you getting a lot of requests for the fourth dose? “Yes, it was also useful to convey it to pharmacies, spread throughout the national territory, we are more able to help the population protect themselves from Covid. The service pharmacy is finally being built ».
With the fourth dose, closer to the elderly and poorly digitized people
“There are many people who are unfamiliar with digital and risk getting discouraged and in the end not booking the vaccine that is rightfully theirs,” adds Dr. Merincola. “We started at the end of November, to date we have carried out 6 thousand vaccines, and about 3/4 a week they still ask us for the first dose. These days we are doing it about 60 per daywe receive hundreds of phone calls every day and the bookings are increasing rapidly. Given the difficulty of booking online for many patients, you can come here to book with a health card and mobile phone and we will help you register. There are many pharmacies that try to be closer to elderly patients or patients with digital difficulties, more and more often left to themselves, managing emails and spid is difficult for everyone », explains Dr. Merincola.
And the vaccines that “advance”?
«Each vial contains 5 vaccines, and if doses are left over at the end of the day or shift, people who have not been able to book an appointment and are eligible to have the vaccine can receive it. In this way we avoid throwing away precious doses that can save the lives of many ”, concludes Doctor Merincola.
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