With the approval of AstraZeneca vaccine by Aifa, the vaccination campaign in Italy can finally turn around. The third serum after Pfizer and Moderna to cross the borders of Italy has in fact a singular characteristic: it will be administered mainly in the age range 18-55 years. If Germany uses it for adults of all ages, the Italian Medicines Agency prefers to favor the younger ones. The reason? The small number of tests among the over 55s.
Who will be given the AstraZeneca vaccine?
In Italy, the AstraZeneca vaccine it will take a somewhat different course than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The latter are currently reserved for healthcare personnel and the over 80s, while the AstraZeneca will serve to guarantee immunity for teachers, police and prison population. The expected doses? 1 million in February, Other 2 in March. Once the categories at risk have been exhausted, mass vaccination will begin on the population under 55. “The data from the registration studies of the AstraZeneca vaccine show a level of uncertainty in the estimate of efficacy in subjects over 55 years of age. This population, in which a good antibody response was observed, was poorly represented ”, reads the AIFA statement. Indeed, the over 55s involved in the study were only 8% and the over 65s 4%.
Aifa's ok to vaccinations over 55
In the past few hours, the ok for the over 55s has arrived, but they will not be the main recipients of the serum. “Pending the acquisition of further data, a preferential use is currently suggested for the AstraZeneca vaccine in populations for which more solid evidence is available, ie young subjects between 18 and 55 years of age. However, it is reiterated that the benefit / risk ratio of this vaccine is favorable even in the elderly ”reads a note from the AIFA, which thus accepted the indications of the EMA (European Medicines Agency).
How the AstraZeneca works
I Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are vaccines based on messenger RNA technology. They therefore exploit this particular type of ribonucleic acid to carry the instructions necessary to produce the spike protein (used by Covid-19 to attach to cells): by vaccinating, the body produces antibodies and becomes immune to the virus. The AstraZeneca vaccine, on the other hand, uses theAdenovirus (and therefore another virus) to spread the SARS-CoV-2 gene in the body. By receiving that gene, which is unable to reproduce and is therefore harmless, the cells produce the spike protein. The organism that received the vaccine recognizes the protein as foreign and develops its natural defenses. In this way, if he were to come into contact with Covid-19, he would recognize it and know how to fight it. Like Pfizer and Moderna, AstraZeneca is also administered in two doses (the second 4-12 weeks after the first).
Is the AstraZeneca vaccine effective?
The AstraZenec vaccinea has an effectiveness of 60%, very far from the 95% of Pfizer and 94,5% of Moderna. However, according to the virologist Burioni, we should not be afraid of this data. However, it is more effective than the flu vaccines used normally, and is an additional weapon against the Coronavirus. However, according to current data, it would seem not to contribute to the achievement of herd immunity. ”This vaccine it is effective in preventing disease but, at the authorized doses and with the data in our possession, does not appear to prevent asymptomatic infection. So people don't get sick but they can get infected and eventually transmit the virus, ”Burioni explained. In this regard, the AIFA also ruled. “The data currently available indicate that, in terms of the percentage reduction in the frequency of symptomatic infections, the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine is lower than that of messenger RNA vaccines. The level of protection offered by the AstraZeneca vaccine, however, brings a significant benefit in terms of containing the pandemic, also in consideration of the greater ease of use ", the content of the note released.
