Italy’s medicines agency AIFA gave the green light to the “second booster” for the over-80s and those between 60 and 79 who are deemed vulnerable, provided it has been at least 120 days since their last dose.
The move comes a week after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended a fourth dose for the over-80s but said it was “too early” to roll out a fourth dose to the general population.
Earlier this month, Italy began to phase out its COVID-19 restrictions, ending a state of emergency public authorities declared more than two years ago that allowed it to bypass bureaucracy and swiftly impose rules via decrees.
Italy’s vaccination campaign has proved successful in reducing the burden on hospitals.
Some 84 per cent of Italians have received the recommended two vaccine doses, while more than 65 per cent of people have received a third shot.
Italy reported 83,643 COVID-19 related cases on Tuesday, against 28,368 the day before, the health ministry said, while the number of deaths rose to 169 from 115.
Italy has registered 161,032 deaths linked to COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged in February 2020, the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain and the eighth highest in the world.
The country has reported 15.4 million cases to date.
