Italy is to give a third dose of the covid-19 vaccine, or 'booster' shot, to the over-60s and people who are frail, the health ministry announced on Friday night. The decision was taken after the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) which said that the booster could be given to people aged over 60 and anyone considered frail, regardless of their age, provided that at least six months have passed since they completed their primary vaccination cycle.

The news comes after Italy began administering the third covid vaccine dose in late September to the most vulnerable people, such as cancer patients and transplant recipients, those aged over 80 and residents/staff of nursing homes. The decision to expand the vaccine campaign came the same day that the government announced there are still around 8.4 million people in Italy (15 per cent of the vaccinable population aged over 12) who have yet to receive even the first covid shot.