First spades, then pasta: In Italy, people can be vaccinated against Corona during their vacation regardless of where they live. This is also good news for foreign tourists.
Germany is facing a problem: the vaccination campaign continues to lose momentum. Also because many people cancel their appointments in order to go on their long-awaited summer vacation. It has been understood in Italy that the majority of the population does not want to miss out on their trip for the important spade in the upper arm.
The popular holiday destination shows how vaccination campaigns and tourism can be successfully combined. All regions of Italy – comparable to the German federal states – are asked to vaccinate people regardless of where they live. In some places, the offer also applies to guests from abroad.
“Maintain vaccination security and promote tourism”
With the new special commissioner for the Covid pandemic appointed by the Draghi government, Francesco Figliuolo, the Italian vaccination campaign has gained momentum in recent months. of the population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19. When it comes to first vaccinations, the country with a population of 60 million is almost on a par with Germany.
Italy wants to keep this pace over the holiday season and make vaccinations as easy as possible. The new regulation of the central government is therefore aimed primarily at the holiday regions. People should be able to go on vacation carefree without having to choose between vacation and corona vaccination.
In the past few days, all tourists in Sicily were able to be vaccinated without registering. The capital region of Lazio wants to use vaccination buses around Rome and drive to the most important beaches in the vicinity. The aim is “to facilitate people’s mobility, to maintain vaccination safety and to promote tourism,” said the responsible regional health assessor, Alessio D’Amato.
“German friends are very welcome”
This is good news for German tourists planning a vacation in Italy: In some regions – such as Lazio with the capital Rome – non-Italians can also combine their second vaccination with their vacation. Health assessor D’Amato emphasized: “Of course, the German friends are very welcome to get vaccinated with us. We do this with great pleasure and willingness to help.”
In addition to Lazio, the regions of Sicily, Marche, Apulia and the province of South Tyrol also offer second vaccinations for everyone. In Lazio an online registration is sufficient, in Sicily, Apulia, the Marche and South Tyrol an appointment booking via the hotline and by email is necessary. The prerequisite is that those who want to be vaccinated have already received their first dose, have been in Italy for at least two weeks and the vaccination date falls within the planned vacation period.
The tourist strongholds of Emilia-Romagna (Rimini), Tuscany and Campania on the Amalfi Coast have so far blocked themselves against the vaccination offer on vacation requested by the government. The responsible regional presidents first demand that the government approve more vaccine doses. However, the special national commissioner Figliuolo was optimistic that soon all regions will make vaccinations possible on vacation.
Vaccination tourism undesirable
However, there is one thing the Italians do not want: an excessive vaccination tourism. Health assessor D’Amato warned that you would reach your limits if the demand was too great. “At the moment we still have availability and we are happy to make this available to citizens who want to spend a few weeks vacation in Italy.” So far, the capital region has already inoculated around 68,000 doses to people who live outside of Lazio.
Overall, the infection situation in the Mediterranean country is still relaxed, the incidence on Tuesday was 8.8. However, the highly contagious delta variant is also spreading here and, according to the, now has a share of around 32 percent.
According to the criteria, Italy no longer counts as a risk area: Anyone entering the country must provide evidence of vaccination, recovery or a negative test. A digital entry form is also required. Those who return to Germany by land do not have to observe any restrictions.
“”, with DPA
