Mass vaccination of all adolescents, from 11 to 25 years old. This is the measure announced by ASL 5 following the tragedy that occurred during the night between Friday and Saturday, when eighteen-year-old Gabriele Pinna died in the hospital in Oristano from meningitis. Laboratory tests confirmed that it was caused by the Neisseria meningitidis group B bacterium . The funeral of the young man is scheduled for this afternoon .
As for prophylaxis, ASL 5 has already secured those who have come into close contact with Gabriele Pinna , with the administration of antibiotic therapy. The decision to adopt blanket vaccination comes "to broaden protection and prevent any new cases" , reports Maria Valentina Marras, who directs the prevention department of ASL Oristano. "We remind you that, regardless of this story, it is always important to seize the opportunity offered by vaccines to protect ourselves from diseases that can have lethal effects, not only in pediatric age, but also in young and adult age".
An extraordinary vaccination plan has been defined for protection against meningococcus type B, aimed at all young people in the province of Oristano from 11 years of age to 25 years of age . "We invite all young people who fall into this age group," continues Marras, "residing in the province of Oristano and not yet vaccinated for this type of infection, to contact the vaccination centers in Oristano, Ghilarza, Ales and Terralba to receive the meningococcus type B vaccine free of charge, capable of effectively protecting against a disease that can have very serious and potentially lethal effects."
"This is a vaccine that is immediately effective, that is, it is able to protect immediately from a possible infection, so it is particularly recommended in this case in which the circulation of the bacterium has been confirmed in our territory", concludes the director. The appeal is aimed at a specific age group, as in Italy the proportion of cases of invasive meningococcal disease type B is high precisely in adolescence . Those who do not fall into this age group can still receive the vaccine for a fee.