Chloe Ramirez
As of March 2021, Italy has made the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all health workers, including pharmacists. This decision was made to protect vulnerable patients and to push back against the country's anti-vaccination movement. As of late December 2020, around 3.1 million of Italy's 60-million-strong population had received the recommended two shots. In May 2020, Italian researchers claimed to have developed a vaccine that can neutralise the coronavirus in human cells. The vaccine, which was tested on mice, generated antibodies that work on human cells.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 31 March 2021 |
| Vaccine availability | Italy has made the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all health workers |
| Vaccines used | Moderna |
| Vaccines blocked | AstraZeneca |
| Number of doses administered | 10 million |
| Number of people with two shots | 3.1 million |
| Population | 60 million |
| Vaccine developer | Takis Biotech |
| Vaccine type | DNA-based |
| Testing location | Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Spallanzani Hospital, Rome |
| Testing subjects | Mice |
| Testing results | Generated antibodies that work on human cells |
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What You'll Learn
Italian researchers claim to have developed a vaccine
As of March 2021, Italy has made COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all health workers, including pharmacists. This decision was made by Prime Minister Mario Draghi's cabinet to protect vulnerable patients and counter the 'no-vax' sentiment in the country. As of late December 2020, around 10 million doses have been administered, with approximately 3.1 million of Italy's 60-million population receiving the recommended two shots.
Back in May 2020, Italian researchers claimed to have developed a vaccine that has successfully generated antibodies in mice that work on human cells. The vaccine was tested in the Spallanzani Hospital in Rome and is said to be one of the most advanced stages of testing of a potential vaccine in the country as it neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 in human cells. The vaccine was developed by Takis Biotech, an Italian company. The CEO of Takis, Luigi Aurisicchio, stated that they were:
> "working hard for a vaccine coming from Italian research, with an all-Italian and innovative technology, tested in Italy and made available to everyone."
He also added that they needed the support of national and international institutions and partners to help speed up the process.
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The vaccine has been tested on mice
In May 2020, Italian researchers claimed to have developed the world's first coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine, which was tested on mice, generated antibodies that work on human cells. The vaccine was developed by Rome-based biotechnology company Takis Biotech.
According to Luigi Aurisicchio, chief executive of Takis, the vaccine candidate had successfully neutralised the coronavirus within human cells. "This is the most advanced stage of testing of a candidate vaccine created in Italy," he said. "As far as we know, we are the first in the world so far to have demonstrated a neutralisation of the coronavirus by a vaccine."
The vaccine was tested on mice at the Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome. Scientists compared a single dose of five different vaccine candidates, all DNA-based. The method involved injecting a tiny amount of cloned genetic code from the virus into the body. This type of vaccine does not use a weakened or deactivated virus, meaning it can be produced on a large scale in a laboratory without the need for fresh samples.
Each candidate vaccine produced a strong antibody response in the mice within 14 days, according to the researchers. Two candidates were selected for further clinical study. The antibodies were then taken from the blood of the mice and added to human cells in a petri dish. The antibodies successfully prevented the SARS-CoV-2 virus from binding to and infecting the human cells.
However, some leading scientists have expressed scepticism, stating that they would be surprised if none of the other vaccines in development had shown similar responses in mice. Dr Preston, for example, noted that the Italian researchers had tested an immune response, not a vaccine itself.
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The vaccine is expected to be tested on humans
Italian researchers have claimed to have developed a vaccine that can neutralise the coronavirus in human cells. The vaccine has been tested on mice, which generated antibodies that work on human cells. The vaccine candidate was tested at the Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome and was developed by Takis Biotech, a Rome-based company.
The chief executive of Takis, Luigi Aurisicchio, stated that the vaccine candidate was in the "most advanced stage of testing" of any vaccine created in Italy. He also said that researchers observed that five candidate vaccines generated a large number of antibodies, from which they selected the two with the best results. The vaccine candidates were based on the genetic material of the "spike" DNA protein that the coronavirus uses to enter human cells.
Human tests for the vaccine are expected to begin after the summer or in the fall. The Italian team plans to start trials in the autumn, as scientists race to halt the pandemic. The vaccine uses a technique called electroporation to help break into the cells and induce the immune system, which is expected to boost the vaccine's effectiveness in producing functional antibodies.
It is important to note that the Italian vaccine has not yet been tested on humans, and there is no guarantee that it will be successful in clinical trials. However, the development of this vaccine candidate represents a significant step forward in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
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Italy makes the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for health workers
On March 31, 2021, Italy made the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all health workers, including pharmacists, in a bid to protect vulnerable patients and curb the spread of the virus in hospitals. The decision was made by Prime Minister Mario Draghi's cabinet and was aimed at pushing back against the country's entrenched anti-vaccination movement. Italy has seen a resurgence of COVID-19 infections and deaths, with over 109,000 fatalities, and the government has tightened restrictions on businesses and movements to contain the virus.
The decree issued by the Italian government states that health workers "are required to undergo vaccination" and those who refuse may face suspension without pay for the rest of the year. This measure has sparked controversy, with critics questioning the legality of forcing only certain groups of workers to be vaccinated. However, the decree also introduces legal protection for those administering the vaccines, addressing demands made by doctors and nurses who had faced investigation for manslaughter.
Italy's vaccine campaign has faced supply delays, similar to other European Union countries, but the country has pledged to increase daily inoculations to 500,000 in April 2021, up from around 230,000 at the time of the decree. As of late March, approximately 3.1 million of Italy's 60-million population had received the full two doses of the vaccine. To contain the spread of the virus, Italy implemented a four-tier, colour-coded system (white, yellow, orange, and red) based on local infection levels. The decree stated that all regions would remain under stricter red or orange zone restrictions until April 30 to allow time for the vaccines to take effect.
The Italian government's decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for health workers prioritises the protection of both medical staff and vulnerable patients. By addressing supply delays and increasing daily inoculations, Italy aims to curb the resurgence of COVID-19 infections and deaths. The four-tier restriction system and the legal protection for vaccinators are additional measures to support the country's vaccination efforts and public health.
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Italy blocked a shipment of 250,700 vaccine doses to Australia
Italy has been working on developing a COVID-19 vaccine since 2020. In May 2020, Italian researchers claimed to have made a "significant breakthrough" in developing an antibody to combat the novel coronavirus. The vaccine candidate was tested on mice, generating antibodies that work on human cells.
However, Italy, like many other European Union countries, has faced supply delays in its vaccine campaign. As of March 2021, around 3.1 million people out of Italy's 60-million population had received the recommended two shots. To address this issue, the Italian government made COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all health workers, including pharmacists, to protect vulnerable patients and counter the 'no-vax' sentiment in the country.
In this context, on March 2, 2021, Italy blocked a shipment of 250,700 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Australia. This decision was based on the newly enacted European Union (EU) transparency and authorization mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines, provided for by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/111 of January 29, 2021. The mechanism requires that until March 31, 2021, exports of COVID-19 vaccines are subject to the prior authorization of the member state where the products are manufactured. The goal is to ensure timely access to vaccines for all EU citizens. This decision highlights the challenges faced by countries in balancing their domestic vaccine needs with international commitments.
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Frequently asked questions
Italian researchers have claimed to have developed the world's first coronavirus vaccine, but human tests were expected to begin after the summer of 2020.
The vaccine is DNA-based and uses a technique called electroporation to break into cells and induce the immune system.
The vaccine has not been tested on humans yet. However, researchers have selected the two best candidates from five vaccine candidates that produced antibodies in mice.
As of March 2021, Italy has made COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all health workers. The country has also pledged to increase daily inoculations in April to 500,000 from around 230,000.
The vaccine development process typically takes years, but researchers in Italy and around the world are working at breakneck speed to develop a safe and effective vaccine.
