Third dose, we start with the over 80. But what to do with those who tested positive after the vaccine?

A short circular, to put in black and white theofficial start of administration of the third dose come “booster”, That is, a reference to a certain number of months from the second. If from 20 September the subjects immunocompromessi they are receiving the third dose, in their case it is more correct to speak of additional administration, which is therefore somehow still part of the main cycle, rather than a recall one, and can in fact be offered starting from 28 days after the second. From today, according to the communication of the ministry signed by Giovanni Rezza, you can proceed with the actual boosters to be administered six months after the completion of the vaccination cycle.

Not surprisingly, the categories involved for the moment are the subjects aged 80 or over, the staff and guests of residential care facilities for the elderly. The priority goes to them and the most efficient regions, such as Lazio, have already prepared the reservations (active, in the case in question from 24 September 29, you go from the site by choosing the preferred vaccination hub or pharmacy or by the doctor of family). At a later stage, a booster dose “it may also be offered to health professions and health care operators who carry out their activities in public and private health, social and social welfare structures, pharmacies, parapharmacies and professional offices, starting from subjects aged ≥60 years or with concomitant disease such as to make them vulnerable to severe forms of COVID-19 or with a high level of exposure to infection“. So also for health professionals, the third dose for everyone but starting from those over 60 or specific pathologies.

The third dose will be done with an mRna vaccine regardless of the product used for the primary cycle, therefore with Comirnaty by BioNTech / Pfizer e Spikevax of Moderna. Finally, the circular explains that “in line with what is highlighted by the CTS in the aforementioned report, the strategy of administering a “booster” dose may also include subjects with high frailty motivated by concomitant / pre-existing pathologies, subject to the opinion of the regulatory agencies”. For the rest of the population we have to wait: we will decide on the basis of the acquisition of new scientific evidence and the epidemiological trend.

There is however a non-secondary problem: many over 80, but also many health workers and guests of the RSA, were positive after having had both doses: they had a mild illness and avoided hospitalization, vaccines protected them to great effect. Now the calls start: from the ministry, however, everything is silent about their fate. Will they have to take the third dose or not? The circular does not specify anything in this sense.