ROME, Italy: Italy’s health ministry announced that it will recommend that people with severely compromised immune systems should receive a fourth mRNA vaccine shot against COVID-19, if at least 120 days have passed since their earlier booster.
The special COVID-19 pandemic commissioner appointed by the Italian government will establish the date for its recommendation to come into force, based on the needs of the vaccine campaign, the ministry added.
The decision highlights that the virus is still circulating and faith in the effectiveness of booster shots in preventing COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations.
Since February 2020, Italy has registered 152,848 deaths linked to COVID-19, the second-highest total in Europe behind the UK and the eighth highest in the world.
Italy has reported 12.4 million COVID-19 cases throughout the country since the start of the pandemic.
