The order from Figliuolo came the same day that Italy temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine as a “precautionary measure”.
Italy is among a number of European countries that have halted the use of the vaccine over reports of blood clots in some recipients, though the company and international regulators say there is no proof the shot causes blood clots.
In recent days, Italy gave the green light to Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine, the fourth to be licensed by the national medicines agency, AIFA, after Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca.
Last week, Figliuolo announced a plan to accelerate Italy’s vaccination campaign which has dogged by delays and shortfalls in vaccines.
The goal is to reach half a million doses per day nationwide, tripling the average daily number of vaccinations in recent weeks, and vaccinating at least 80 per cent of the population by September.
To date there have been 6,715,732 vaccines administered throughout Italy, with more than two million people receiving a second dose, according to the latest data from the health ministry.
With ANSA
