ROME - Following a fall in the number of vaccine doses administered over the Easter period, concerns are beginning to grow that Italy will not be able to reach the target of vaccinating 70 percent of the population, as outlined by General Francesco Figliuolo, the commissioner leading the country’s fight against Covid-19. 

  Many still worry that the number of new cases and deaths is still too high, 17,567 and 344 respectively, and that loosening restrictions further will be a mistake, though the R rate has fallen enough around the country to justify the opening of several regions, in line with the previously outlined guidelines. Almost all of Italy has now become orange, though with Puglia, Campani, Sardinia and Valle d’Aosta still red. The government has also announced the possibility of a few regions becoming yellow from next week.

  However, it has been announced that from March 15-22, 4.2 million doses will be delivered throughout the country, including to the newly reopened vaccination hubs in plants and museums, with the aim of administering 315,000 doses a day, and 400,000 by the end of April.

  This new bunch of doses will include 3 million Pfizer, around 500,000 Vaxzevria, 400,000 Moderna and more than 180,000 Johnson&Johnson. These doses have been spread around the 2,200 vaccination centres throughout the country. The Russian Sputnik vaccine has also begun tests in the Spallanzani plant in Italy, in preparation for its planned use throughout the country.

  Over 3 million over 80s have now received their first dose, increasing by 500,000 from last week.

 The monoclonal antibody treatment has now been used on almost 2,000 Covid patients in Italy, all of whom fully recovered. This treatment, though it has been widely available in many countries for a long time and can be up to 87% effective in reducing severe symptoms and death, has been very little used and publicised. If conducted early on a patient, it can be extremely effective.

  However, in Italy, 38,000 doses have been blocked, and Figliuolo has announced that 150,000 are to become available very soon.

ol