From January 2021 to September, Covid vaccines prevented over 22,000 deaths in Italy. This is what we read in an ISS study published on Eurosurveillance.
Not only that, the administrations have saved 445 thousand cases, 79 thousand hospitalizations and almost 10 thousand admissions in intensive care, with a more pronounced effect in July and August, when coverage of more than 60% was reached in the groups over 20 years. Of the 22 thousand deaths avoided, 71% are over 80. Numbers in line with the WHO-ECDC study in which 35 thousand deaths avoided in Italy for the period December 2020-November 2021 are highlighted for the over 60s.
If of the 22 thousand deaths avoided in Italy, 71% are over 80, this is due to the fact that - explains the ISS - it was "the first age group to reach high coverage in addition to the one at greatest risk of death from Covid". 18% of the deaths avoided were in the 70-79 range, 8% in the 60-79 and 2% in the under 60s, the last to be vaccinated.
"The studies are important because they reveal how vaccinated people have a much lower risk of having serious consequences from the infection - the comment of ISS president Silvio Brusaferro on the ISS and WHO studies -. 'importance of this tool, together with the others we have such as spacing and masks, still millions of people are not protected. The invitation is therefore to start the process for those who have not yet done so, and to protect themselves with the recall, especially if you are part of the most fragile categories, the first to which this possibility was offered ".
(Unioneonline / D)