Speaking in front of the Senate, Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the government had options to buy 202 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from different companies, awaiting approval by the European pharmaceutical regulator.
Vaccine distribution depends on contracts signed by the European Commission. According to Mr. Speranza, the vaccination campaign in Italy will be carried out from spring to summer 2021, priority is given to medical staff, the elderly and people living in nursing homes.
Earlier that same day, Britain became the first country in the West to approve the Covid-19 vaccine, after the country’s health regulator approved the emergency use of the US Pfizer vaccine and Germany’s BioNTech to jointly deliver development. Immunization in the UK will start next week.
UK Health Minister Matt Hancock said several million doses of Covid-19 vaccine will be vaccinated to British people this December.
Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Hancock said: “We have not given a specific number before Christmas, but what I do know is that we can start our first Covid-19 vaccination next week and a few million doses during December. Contact UK health authorities on turn. I hope people will get vaccinated because vaccination is good for you. The vaccine has been approved by the regulator to be clinically safe and good for the community. Immunization will help us control the disease ”.