Italy's vaccination campaign has been
unsettled by the case of an 18-year-old woman who died at
Genoa's San Martino hospital on Thursday after suffering a
blood clot following vaccination with the AstraZeneca jab on May
25.
A causal link between the death of Camilla Canepa and the
vaccination has not been established, however.
Canepa, who was from the town of Sestri Levante in Liguria, was
given the jab during a vaccination 'open day' for over 18s.
The case has raised concerns about the use of the AstraZeneca
vaccine on young people.
The AstraZeneca jab has been approved for all over-18s, but in
Italy it is only recommended for over-60s due to links to rare
cases of blood clots in younger people.
This, however, is not an outright ban and the AstraZeneca jab is
widely being used in Italy for under-60s, especially since the
government made it possible for all adult age groups to book
vaccinations, not just the oldest and people considered
vulnerable.
The question has come to the fore with many young people keen to
get vaccinated on a voluntary basis to obtain the Green Pass
enabling them to travel and attend certain events.
Liguria Governor Giovanni Toti said Friday that Canepa's case
should not be used for point scoring, stressing that "the option
of using AstraZeneca for everyone on a voluntary basis was not
invented by the regional governments or by a Dr Strangelove, it
was suggested by the top technical-scientific bodies in order to
increase vaccinations and, therefore, prevent deaths".
Toti also made public a letter from the CTS panel of experts
advising the government on its battle against COVID-19 that gave
the green light to using the Astrazeneca jab for vaccination
open days for people of all ages.
The regions of Lazio and Umbria have halted use of the
Astrazeneca jab in open days for under-60s pending
clarification.
Health Minister Roberto Speranza and CTS Coordinator Franco
Locatelli.are set to speak about the situation on Friday.
Canepa's organs, meanwhile, were removed from her body on Friday
so they can be use for transplants, sources said.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA