Which vaccines are mandatory in Italy?

Editorial Board

Editorial Board

November 15th, 2017

Editorial Board
Share

‘The Italian government has made vaccines against 10 diseases compulsory for children enrolling in state-run schools. The parents of children not vaccinated by six years of age will be fined. ’

Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflected changes to Italy’s law on compulsory vaccination. An earlier draft of the legislation provided for 12 vaccines to become mandatory. This was reduced to 10 during a debate in parliament.

Italy is one of several European countries experiencing measles outbreaks – jeopardising a continent-wide effort to eliminate the disease.

In Italy, the number of two-year-olds vaccinated against measles has dropped from more than 90% to below 80%. This is well short of the World Health Organization’s recommended coverage of 95% or more. Almost three times as many measles cases have been recorded in Italy to date, compared to all of 2016.

Whether mandatory vaccination is the best way to reach vaccine uptake targets remains a debate – some countries are measles-free without introducing compulsory measures. Other countries, such as Australia, have incentivised vaccination by linking it to social welfare payments. Several US states have introduced mandates, with opt-out clauses for medical (and, sometimes, philosophical) exemptions.

Italy’s choice

The Italian government, concerned by falling vaccine uptake rates and an apparent increase in antivaccine sentiment, has decided to take a firm position by introducing compulsory vaccination for measles and 9 other diseases.

‘We are sending a very strong message to the public,’ said Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin, adding that the ‘vaccine emergency is driven by fake news’ which has spread misinformation about vaccine safety.

This was echoed by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni who blamed a decrease in vaccinations on the ‘spread of anti-scientific theories’.

Vaccines against the following diseases are mandatory for Italian schoolchildren: polio, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae B, measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, and chickenpox.

Some of these vaccines are given in combination. For example, the MMR jab protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Italy: big on prevention

The Italian government has been proactive in its support for preventative health measures, including vaccination. Its new immunisation schedule takes a life-course approach to immunisation and is widely supported by scientific societies in Italy.

While many public health campaigners welcome the latest move to make several vaccines mandatory, some have questioned whether the health system is ready to meet the surge in demand that this may generate. Others worry that the move will backfire.

Beyond Italy, the debate about mandatory vaccination continues among vaccine advocates, with some contending that health professionals have a duty to be vaccinated so as to protect their patients.

While there is strong consensus in the public health community about the importance of vaccination, it is not yet clear whether making vaccines compulsory is the best way to achieve high uptake rates.

What do you think?

Comments

  1. Max Just

    Max Just

    August 31st, 2017

    Switzerland will soon be the only country with Measler cases – it is a shame für us.

    • Loli

      Loli

      October 28th, 2018

      Max Just I’d rather have measles than the shit deadly crap poison they put in vaccines that causes damages and deaths in babies and children!

      • Marlo Compagnone

        Marlo Compagnone

        January 25th, 2019

        AGREE!!!!!! No one does their own research , it’s sad.

        • Livia Bresciani

          Livia Bresciani

          March 19th, 2019

          by own research do you mean looking at unverified google sites that have been written by people that don’t have a degree.

          • Chris Lucy

            Chris Lucy

            August 30th, 2020

            There are many books pre-internet. I found 45 from doctors, scientists and researchers – warning against vaccines, highlighting long-term effects of heavy metals in the body. Pasteur was a crook. Germ theory (a theory) is flawed. Modern medicine is founded on a house of cards. Do your research – not just youtube. Send me a reply and I’ll forward book links.

          • Paul White

            Paul White

            November 18th, 2020

            The UK Health Secretary does not have a degree, at least not a medical-related one anyway

        • HB

          HB

          December 16th, 2020

          Like finding out about children who suffered brain damage from getting measles.

      • Livia Bresciani

        Livia Bresciani

        March 12th, 2019

        just so we are aware, measles also causes death and damage to babies

      • Snijana

        Snijana

        March 5th, 2020

        Measles can kill you. Vaccines give you a sore arms for a couple of days. You are the perfect example why vaccines should not be mandatory. We should let natural selection run its course.

      • Tippin Tim

        Tippin Tim

        March 26th, 2020

        Article 13.1 only applies when the vaccine presents with deadly “crap” as you say.
        The reason a lot of them are untested for fertility and carcinogens is because the vaccine itself has already tested material in it.
        It’s only tested and added to clause 13.1 when a known carcinogen is introduced to the vaccine.
        Your lack of understanding of the process & access to misinformation does not constitute a knowledge base, that you can continue to spew across the internet.

        Baseless opinion, smh.

    • George

      George

      March 27th, 2020

      No it’s to your credit!

    • Caulk

      Caulk

      March 28th, 2020

      Measles outbreaks are happening now in the US and are mostly in vaccinated individuals

      • Monica

        Monica

        April 25th, 2020

        Measles on “mostly vaccinated individuals”???? Are you HIGH? This is beyond fake, it is DANGEROUS. Parents who don’t vaccinate their children should go to JAIL. Unless there’s is a real medical reason not to do so. Only a MEDICAL reason.

        • Michelle

          Michelle

          June 9th, 2021

          You sound like a nazi! No one should tell parents what to inject into their children! Trusting their god given immune system shouldn’t get you this upset,

  2. Joseph Cook

    Joseph Cook

    March 6th, 2019

    I am cautiously following the debate about vaccinations. My current opinion is that vaccinations should be spaced out so that a child’s body can metabolize each shot one at a time. I regard that the multiple number of shots required in the United States (is it 72) is excessive.
    Let’s also be mindful that some of the vaccinations we use have saved perhaps tens of millions of lives over the decades and have exceeded expectations.

    • Gary Finnegan

      Gary Finnegan

      March 19th, 2019

      On what are you basing your opinion about ‘metabolizing’ each shot?

    • Kate

      Kate

      April 20th, 2019

      Doesn’t it raise a red flag to you that (if you do the research) will find the measles “outbreak” was the SAME strain that is in the Vaccine. Also, IF vaccines work the way they are supposed to then why are more vaccinated children falling ill compared to the unvaccinated micro population? Also, measles was eradicated THREE years BEFORE the vaccine was introduced. Think about the cancer rate in children that has increased with the number of vaccines as well.. and why you wonder ? There ARE DNA fragments IN vaccines… Not to mention the cancer cells they have in them.. yes, cancer cells…. if your child accidentally ingests even the smallest amount of Rat poison or aluminun, or any other neuro toxin found in vaccines, we are asked to call poison control right away!!!! BUT- we are told they are “safe” to be injected to prevent measles.. you can prevent an infection lol which that’s all measles is … look it up please : MORE children have died from the MMR vaccine than the number of actual measles .. what’s that say

      • Gary Finnegan

        Gary Finnegan

        April 23rd, 2019

        I’m not sure I understand your complaint about vaccines protecting against the same strains as those circulating in the community. That’s how vaccines prepare the body’s immune system against these viruses. That’s why the flu vaccine is reformulated each year to match the latest strains of flu virus.

        Regarding your statement that measles was ‘eradicated’ years before the vaccine was introduced. That’s just not true. Only one human disease has ever been eradicated – smallpox. Measles was eliminated in some regions (e.g. the Americas) recently but that was long after the vaccine was introduced. In fact, it was achieved because of vaccines. However, ‘eliminated’ in one region is not the same as ‘eradicated’ globally. So cases can – and, sadly, were – imported to the Americas from other regions.

        You might be thinking of the fact that measles deaths were falling before the vaccine was introduced, thanks to better healthcare in developed countries. But there were still cases and still preventable deaths.

      • Joe

        Joe

        August 25th, 2019

        Autism now 1 in 32 children
        1 in 3 children getting cancer or some autoimmune disease.
        American children sickest amongst civilized world.
        You are quite mistaken if you think vaccines promote health. Quite the contrary.

        • Gary Finnegan

          Gary Finnegan

          September 16th, 2019

          1 in 3 children ‘getting cancer’? Where are you getting these ideas?

          • Louie

            Louie

            April 29th, 2020

            Well, he did say one out of three children would get cancer or autoimmune disease. Perhaps if they are added together, you do get one out of three. I think of all the autoimmune related diseases. Juvenile diabetes juvenile arthritis ,psoriasis, hashimoto’s, Crohn’s, alopecia, and even eczema. I’m sure there are hundreds of others.

      • Peter Sanderson

        Peter Sanderson

        March 30th, 2020

        Exactly !

    • Catherine O

      Catherine O

      July 12th, 2019

      I’ve been told the same by a medical doctor (off the record) and my mum who worked in immunology.

      • Gary Finnegan

        Gary Finnegan

        July 18th, 2019

        Hi Catherine,
        While the number of diseases against which children can be protected is now higher than in previous decades, the number of antigens (the substances that trigger an immune response) is actually far lower than every before.
        This page has more details. It also addresses a common concern about combination vaccines (e.g. DTaP, MMR and so on). Hope it helps.

  3. Pingback

    Pingback

    March 13th, 2019

    […] the recent outbreaks shouldn’t come as a shock, a recent study shows that the country’s vaccination rate was near 80%, far below the World Health Organization’s 95% […]

  4. Pingback

    Pingback

    March 13th, 2019

    […] the recent outbreaks shouldn’t come as a shock, a recent study shows that the country’s vaccination rate was near 80%, far below the World Health Organization’s 95% […]

    • Kate

      Kate

      April 20th, 2019

      But if the outbreak is due to lack of vaccination then why is measles the ONLY thing that’s breaking out ? We vaccinate against NUMEROUS “diseases” yet.. measles … that’s the one. That’s the one they chose to SELL. Measles is not as scary as they say, they are selling fear .. it’s not comfortable, sure ! But it IS a common childhood illness- my grandparents laugh about the uproar about measles right now. Even the elderly community that I work with chuckle about it. The fact is Vaccines sell.. and it creates a customer for life … all that crap in your body is bound to bring you down with something ..

      • Gary Finnegan

        Gary Finnegan

        April 23rd, 2019

        Measles is highly infectious. That is why you see more measles cases than mumps cases even though they are prevented by the same vaccine (although there have been mumps outbreaks recently).

      • Gary Finnegan

        Gary Finnegan

        July 18th, 2019

        Good question about why measles is causing bigger outbreaks than, say, mumps which is covered by the same vaccine. The answer is that measles is much more contagious. Every person with measles infects 12-18 people. Someone with mumps infects 4-6.
        Someone with flu infects 1-3 people because the virus is less infectious. There’s a useful infographic in this story https://www.cbsnews.com/news/just-how-contagious-are-the-measles-anyway/

        I had measles and, while it was miserable, I was fine. It’s usually a mild disease, as your grandparents and others know. But if 100 people in your city have measles, you could have 1,000 – 2,000 cases. At that kind of level, there is a strong possibility that someone will die. (Mortality rates are much higher in low-resource regions, but people still die in Europe, the US, Australia and Japan during outbreaks.)

        The question of profit comes up a lot. Vaccines are developed and sold by commercial companies but the profit margins on measles vaccines is not very high – although turnover is high given that most people have them. https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/faq/isnt-the-pharmaceutical-industry-just-out-to-make-money/

        Your last line about vaccines deliberately causing ill-health would imply an implausibly vast conspiracy to poison children. I don’t see this as remotely likely, to be honest. https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/faq/do-vaccinations-contain-toxic-chemicals-which-poison-children/

  5. nahida

    nahida

    June 19th, 2019

    Is there anyone who can help me ?i used to live in italy but now i live in london .when i came here my son was 7 years old, now he is 12 and from his school they asked me did he got his 2 doses MMR vaccination but I dont know what to say because i checked the vaccination card from italy and there was nothing in this name .please help me

    • Gary Finnegan

      Gary Finnegan

      June 25th, 2019

      Hi Nahida,
      You can compare the Italian and UK vaccine schedules here. If your son has attended all of his vaccine appointments, these are the vaccines he should have had. The best way to check for sure might be to contact your healthcare provider in Italy.

      • Necter Beau

        Necter Beau

        June 27th, 2020

        @Gary: Best way to know is if he has antibodies from his Italian vaccine shots. Have them do an antibody test for Measles, Mump, and Rubella. If no antibodies, then he doesn’t have the hyped up immune system for MMR. Nonetheless, the marxist school will still require the three-dose MMR schedule signed off on paper.

        • Gary Finnegan

          Gary Finnegan

          June 29th, 2020

          Marxist school? With respect, what are you talking about?

    • Steve

      Steve

      March 26th, 2020

      Though I do not like to be deceptive. I don’t think vaccines should be mandatory! I would say yes! If they ask you to prove it, tell them you will have to ask for transcripts given the current state that Italy is in “it could take months” wink wink…..and hope they forget.

  6. Gary Finnegan

    Gary Finnegan

    July 18th, 2019

    Good question about why measles is causing bigger outbreaks than, say, mumps which is covered by the same vaccine. The answer is that measles is much more contagious. Every person with measles infects 12-18 people. Someone with mumps infects 4-6.
    Someone with flu infects 1-3 people because the virus is less infectious. There’s a useful infographic in this story https://www.cbsnews.com/news/just-how-contagious-are-the-measles-anyway/

    I had measles and, while it was miserable, I was fine. It’s usually a mild disease, as your grandparents and others know. But if 100 people in your city have measles, you could have 1,000 – 2,000 cases. At that kind of level, there is a strong possibility that someone will die. (Mortality rates are much higher in low-resource regions, but people still die in Europe, the US, Australia and Japan during outbreaks.)

    The question of profit comes up a lot. Vaccines are developed and sold by commercial companies but the profit margins on measles vaccines is not very high – although turnover is high given that most people have them. https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/faq/isnt-the-pharmaceutical-industry-just-out-to-make-money/

    Your last line about vaccines deliberately causing ill-health would imply an implausibly vast conspiracy to poison children. I don’t see this as remotely likely, to be honest. https://www.vaccinestoday.eu/faq/do-vaccinations-contain-toxic-chemicals-which-poison-children/

  7. Jeremiah

    Jeremiah

    March 11th, 2020

    William Thompson – Reported the numerous cdc cover ups, and false information.
    America is going to soon lead the world in infant mortality, autism is up 2300 percent in some cities.
    Every aspect of the gov is evil this includes pharma if you take the time to research.
    Last year over 8 million babies were murder but that is not a crisis. I often go to pro vaccine sites
    and post how I want force vaccinations after lots of upvotes I then post if we could ban abortion we could save even more children. Most often I’m down voted to oblivion and in some case I’m banned from the site.
    Japan suspended many vaccines and the children are much healthier.

  8. Finn Evert Jor

    Finn Evert Jor

    April 11th, 2020

    Why no BCG-vaccine in Italy with all the migrants and all?

  9. uno

    uno

    April 14th, 2020

    People should be given option to whether they want to get vaccine or not. Let alone them vaccine supporters have em shot into their body, should em accept the risk they are willing to take. I myself have have a daughter and son. My daughter got all the mandatory shot and now she is prone to getting ill most of the time, meanwhile my son had the least shot and he is healthy almost all the time.

  10. Bheki

    Bheki

    May 31st, 2020

    I believe God did not make a mistake when He made us. Vaccines are fake because they vaccinate children in the name of protection yet they say others who are not vaccinated will infect them how?

    If vaccines really protect as they claim how then will you be infected by others. When having sex one person must put a condom not two. There are some evil doctors or professionals who are lying just to cheat people money. Why will you force people to do what they are not willing to do as if u care. If choose not vaccinat my child I’m irresponsible and i must be forced because someone cares that I’m killing innocent child. Abortion is killing why do those people don’t care?

    I hate vaccines they should not be madentary at all.

  11. Adso

    Adso

    July 4th, 2021

    Mandatory vaccines? Since we are at it why not also a barcode tattooed on the arm certifying you did get said vaccine ?

    • Guisepe

      Guisepe

      August 30th, 2021

      Yes and also.make us carry cards to drive with our information on it, or to buy alcohol or to get into certain movies or clubs. How about a sheet the proves we got vaccinations to go to school. Guys named adso sound dumb and misinforned.

    • Davide

      Davide

      January 28th, 2022

      they will arrive soon, in the prophecies of Nostradamus we are right now in the period of the rise of a new Hitler, more powerful than Hitler but, as Albert Einstein said: Two things are infinite, as far as we know – the universe and human stupidity. (1947)
      let everyone believe in the institutions, ruled by the god of money

  12. Deborah

    Deborah

    November 16th, 2021

    Tetanus is not communicable and whooping cough only protects the person immunized to lessen symptoms – much like the Covid vaccine. Why are those on the mandatory list?