VATICAN CITY — Vatican citizens, employees and their families will begin to receive the coronavirus vaccine early next year, according to Vatican News.
The head of the Vatican health service, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, says the Pfizer vaccine has been chosen, but others might be introduced later. Arcangeli says the Vatican health services planned a campaign to underline the importance of the vaccine, which can be administered to anyone over 18.
The Vatican, a tiny city state of about 600 people in the center of Rome, has beefed up its coronavirus measures amid a resurgence of the outbreak in Italy, including requiring protective masks indoors.
In October, a resident of the Vatican hotel where Pope Francis lives and several Swiss Guards tested positive.
Italy has registered 1.8 million confirmed cases and more than 63,000 confirmed deaths, sixth highest in the world.
THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first COVD-19 vaccine late Friday. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump hasn’t publicly acknowledged this week’s record number of coronavirus deaths, hospitalizations and cases. Trump’s three-minute internet address hailing the vaccine made no mention of the toll the virus has taken. One presidential historian points to a lack of “emotional depth.