NAPLES - Vincenzo De Luca, the President of Campania, has rebelled against the decision of the Italian government in saying the his region will no longer administer different vaccines for the first and second dose.

  This announcement on Sunday follows Lombardy’s U-turn on Saturday in which the region, in the matter of just a few hours, ruled against a vaccine mix before backtracking and allowing it again.

  De Luca said, "the region of Campania considers it necessary to make clear choices. From today, we will no longer administer doses of viral vectors vaccines [AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Johnson & Johnson], to any age group. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will continue. Those who have taken the first dose of Astrazeneca over the age of 60, can complete the cycle with Astrazeneca. For subjects under 60 years old (except for those who are in the 12th week of the cycle) will not receive different vaccine doses, based on scientific concerns that we will send to the Government. We urge for answers without which we will maintain the rejection of the mixing of vaccines.”

  On Sunday the Health Minister, Roberto Speranza, asked the regions’ governments to align themselves with the decision of the government regarding the controversial vaccines and Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, “after having listened to Figliuolo [the commissioner leading Italy’s fight against the pandemic], I can reassure you that the vaccination plan continues: there are neither uncertainties nor fears that it cannot go ahead.”

  De Luca continued, “The events of the last few days regarding the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine [further cases of thrombosis following administration] radically change the level of confidence, sensitivity and the same willingness of citizens in relation to the vaccination campaign. It is therefore necessary to rebuild the relationship of trust towards the state, which is now strongly compromised.

  He added how he thought that the government were not clear in their precautions regarding vaccinations and needed to be cleared in the advice they gave. “The role of the Commissioner is related to a purely technical-operational work, to the distribution of vaccines. Medical-scientific communication must be traced back to the Ministry of Health alone, who must take responsibility for providing guidance, letting only one person speak who is employed in the Ministry. The existing confusion is likely to undermine the vaccination campaign. We hope that from now on, on the part of the government, expressions such as, “it is recommended,” “it is recommended,” ”it is preferable” are eliminated, and one simply says, “it is allowed,” or “it is forbidden.”

  Many virologists and epidemiologists have spoken out in support of the government’s plan, highlighting how, despite little data, cases of thrombosis are extremely rare, and using different vaccines for the two doses can be in fact more effective. It has also been noted that the vaccines producing worry in Europe have been used to a much greater extent, and with a high degree of efficacy, in countries such as Canada and the UK with very few cases of harmful side effects.

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