Healthcare and public safety personnel, seniors and staff most frequently in contact with the public get priority. Cardinals and retired Holy See officials, as well as their families, will also be vaccinated. Some 5,000 Holy See employees should be vaccinated, including 618 people with Vatican citizenship, 246 of whom are local residents. Overall, some 10,000 people might get the vaccine.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis was vaccinated against COVID-19 today, not yesterday as was reported, as was Benedict XVI, Vatican Press Office director Matteo Bruni announced.
The Vatican’s vaccination campaign began yesterday, 13 January, in the lobby of the Paul VI Audience Hall with two examination tables, a screen and all the necessary medical equipment.
An ultra-low temperature cooler was bought to store the Pfizer-BionTech vaccine.
In a statement, the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Governorate of the Vatican City State noted that priority in vaccination goes to healthcare and public safety personnel, seniors and staff most frequently in contact with the public.
Children under the age of 18 are excluded for the time being because no studies have yet to be conducted which include this age group, the statement adds.
Cardinals and retired Holy See officials will also be vaccinated, as will their relatives who are members of the Fondo Assistenza Sanitaria (Healthcare Fund).
This covers some 5,000 people employed by the Holy See as well as the 618 people with Vatican citizenship (246 of whom local residents). Overall, some 10,000 people might be entitled to vaccination, but no official figures have been released.