Italy plans to vaccinate 1.7 mln people by end-January - Global Times

Some 1.7 million Italians will get vaccinated against coronavirus by the end of January 2021, the country's Extraordinary Commissioner for the COVID-19 Emergency Domenico Arcuri said at a press conference here on Thursday.

The official said that under the government's national COVID-19 vaccination plan, priority will be given to healthcare workers and the elderly.

"The first vaccine available will be that provided by Pfizer, and Italy will get the first tranche of 3.4 million doses on the basis of the procurement carried out at the European Union (EU) level," Arcuri said.

He said the vaccines are expected to arrive in the country in the second half of January, and the plan is for the health services to be ready by that time to immediately start the vaccination campaign.