Puglia region. The anti-Covid vaccination target has been extended to scientific representatives

OBJECT:

DGR n.2132 of 22.12.2020 – Circulars prot. AOO/005/0000032 of 04.01.2021 and prot. AOO/005/000066 of 05.01.2021 - Further operational indications - Reassessment of biological risk - Vaccination target categories - RECALL.

With reference to the indications formulated with the circulars in question referred to, the regional control room found that a non-homogeneous observance of the indications contained in the circular of the Ministry of Health prot. 0042164-24/12/2020 as well as what is expressly provided for by the regional circular prot. AOO/005/0000032 of 04.01.2021 with reference to the target categories to ensure vaccination in Phase 1 of the National Extraordinary Plan.

It should be remembered that the categories of subjects to whom the anti-Covid-19 vaccination must be guaranteed in this first phase are:

1. health and social health workers;
2. staff of the Health Residences and Social Health Care (RSA and RSSA);
3. guests of the Health and Social Health Care Residences (RSA and RSSA).

Furthermore, for the definition of priorities in the administration of the vaccine to health and social-health workers within the organizational structures of each Company or Body, indications were given to adopt an approach that takes into account the variables connected to individual exposure (DVR) in descending order as specified below:

It was found that the definition of health and social-health worker has in some cases been understood extensively and not consistent with the primary purposes of Public Health well highlighted in the circular of the Ministry of Health that is, in consideration of "the initial availability of a limited number of doses, in this first phase of the anti-SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccination campaign, we will operate with the aim of maximizing the result, concentrating resources on the protection of the staff dedicated to dealing with the pandemic emergency and on the most fragile subjects (health and social health workers and staff and guests of residential facilities for the elderly)".

In order to standardize the action by the Companies and Bodies of the Regional Health Service, it is considered appropriate to clarify the following.

Among the categories of health and social-health professionals must also be understood, by way of example and not exhaustively:

1. operators in charge of cleaning and sanitizing services in healthcare environments;
2. the operators of voluntary associations who operate under an agreement or, in any case, authorized by the Companies and Bodies of the Regional Health Service in services in direct contact with patients (e.g. transport, ADI, ludic-recreational activities, recovery and rehabilitation activities and in psychological support activities, etc.);
3. the operators of third-party companies engaged in surgical operating sessions;
4. operators of third-party companies permanently engaged in plant and equipment maintenance activities within hospitalization and care facilities;
5. operators also from third-party companies engaged in front office activities in direct contact with patients (e.g. Cup/ticket cash desks, Civil Invalidity, Prosthesis Offices, etc..);
6. scientific informants and the other categories of professionals for whom access, with prolonged stay, to hospitalization and outpatient facilities is permitted, in contact with health and social-health workers.

We therefore refer to the General Managers and, in particular, the Medical Directors as coordinators of the NOA-CovidVacc of the Local Health Authorities, of the University Hospitals as well as of the public and private IRCCS as well as the Medical Directors of all hospitalization institutions accredited private individuals and residential care facilities to strictly comply with national and regional indications regarding the execution of the vaccination campaign in order to guarantee homogeneity in the administration of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine to the envisaged categories.

Therefore, every verification action must be implemented by NOA-CovidVacc and by the Company Management to ensure compliance with the national and regional indications, recalling the responsibilities placed in charge of the subjects responsible at the territorial level for the organization of the vaccination campaign activities or of the managers of the individual vaccination points formally identified by each company Health Department.

First of all, in consideration of the imperative need to guarantee to all operators receiving the anti-Covid-19 vaccine in this first phase the administration of the second dose within the scheduled times.

With reference to the necessary reassessment of the biological risk, which takes into account the possibility that workers come into contact with people potentially affected by COVID-19, we inform you that the document called "Vaccination plan for healthcare workers – Legislative Decree 81/08 and subsequent amendments - Biological risk: Prevention and management of the epidemiological emergency from Covid-19" prepared by SIRGISL and the University of Bari as a guideline so that each ASL, AOU and public IRCCS can proceed accordingly with updating the own biological risk assessment documents.

We also inform you that, in order to adequately support all operators involved in the administration of the Cominarty (Pfizer) anti-Covid19 vaccine, the Control Room has prepared a video tutorial which is made available at the following link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ijnfp5QcdbcBVo0Psq0szcigH4_HwxNu/view?usp=sharing

In relation to the information obligations, it is confirmed that the National Vaccine Registry has been adapted and, consistently, also the GIAVA regional information system so that all administrations are recorded promptly and, in any case, no later than the day of vaccination by all operators employees of the activities in the hospital and territorial vaccination points.

It is also confirmed that by 01.15.2021 the regional platform will be activated for the management of availability diaries and reservations for anti-Covid-19 vaccinations integrated with the GIAVA regional information system in order to comply with the new information obligation introduced by the Ministry of Health.

Puglia. Circular further operational indications

Note: The AIISF Section of Lecce thanks Dr Antonio Maria Gabellone regional councilor together with the councilor Ing Alessandro Delli Noci for the availability and sensitivity and attention towards the ISF category