Covid, circular issued for vaccines: where booster shots can be obtained and how to book.

The Ministry of Health has issued a long-awaited circular with guidelines and recommendations for the 2025/2026 autumn-winter anti-Covid vaccination campaign . The new vaccines are updated for the Sars-CoV-2 LP.8.1 variant and " co-administration with other vaccines (particularly the influenza vaccine ) is possible, subject to any specific indications for use or clinical evaluations."

The document is based on the "most recent scientific evidence" and "documents issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA)" and indicates the groups to whom the offer will be addressed.

Given the current epidemiological situation, the circular explains, "the 2025/2026 national fall-winter vaccination campaign against Covid-19 will use vaccines adapted to the LP.8.1 variant." The booster dose "is annual," and having contracted a SARS-CoV-2 infection, even recently, after the previous booster, "does not constitute a contraindication to vaccination."

The categories

A booster dose of the updated LP.8.1 vaccine will be actively offered to the categories listed in an attachment to the document, which details the list of groups for whom the booster shot is recommended: people aged 60 and over, residents of long-term care facilities ; women in any trimester of pregnancy or in the postpartum period, including breastfeeding women; healthcare and social care workers, and medical and health professions students undertaking internships in care facilities, and all healthcare and social care personnel in training; people aged 6 months to 59 years inclusive, who are highly vulnerable due to illnesses or conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

The document also requests "the collaboration of doctors in evaluating cases in which vaccination may be indicated" beyond the indicated list. It reiterates "the importance of assessing the benefit/risk ratio in order to determine eligibility for vaccination, ensuring its provision free of charge." Vaccination is also recommended for family members, cohabitants, and caregivers of people with severe disabilities, while still maintaining the possibility of free access. Finally, at the start of the campaign, it is specified that vaccination, while still recommended for all the indicated groups and also available to those who do not fall into the aforementioned categories, "will be administered with priority to people aged 80 and over, residents of long-term care facilities, highly vulnerable people, with particular reference to those with severely compromised immune systems, and healthcare and social care workers."

Among the updated vaccines available is Pfizer

Among the COVID-19 vaccines adapted to LP.8.1, already authorized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), "Comirnaty* LP.8.1" from Pfizer/BioNTech is available to the Ministry of Health under an existing contract, and its distribution to the Regions and Autonomous Provinces is imminent." The document also emphasizes the importance of monitoring for possible side effects. "It is recommended," it urges, "to comply with the principles of good vaccination practices, to assess the benefit/risk ratio specific to age and gender, and to promptly report any suspected adverse reactions to the AIFA pharmacovigilance system." Finally, the circular reminds that "suspected adverse reactions to drugs, including vaccines, can be reported by both healthcare professionals and any citizen using the methods provided on the AIFA website."

Where can I get a recall and how to book?

Where will the COVID-19 booster shots updated to the LP.8.1 variant, scheduled for this fall-winter, be administered? "Without prejudice to the contribution and role of the Prevention Departments, the Regions and Autonomous Provinces are recommended to implement appropriate organizational measures, with particular reference to the operational collaboration of general practitioners and pediatricians , pharmacies , and the hospital and local specialist network, including long-term care facilities, aimed at ensuring a greater active vaccination offer to people at risk of developing severe forms of the disease, thus facilitating timely participation in vaccination campaigns."

The document also recommends strengthening communication and information efforts and making it possible for citizens to book their COVID-19 vaccination "through the regional online platform." These recommendations, the ministry specifies, "may be updated based on epidemiological trends, the acquisition of new scientific evidence, and/or any vaccine updates to reflect new variants."