MILAN (ITALPRESS) – The first weeks of the 2025/2026 vaccination campaign were published and the Lombardy Region recorded a result that has caught many surprises: community pharmacies turned out to be one of the most effective players in vaccination. The data arrive directly from the official document “Campagna Vaccinale 2025/2026 – Regione Lombardia”, dated 31 October 2025. The report, transmitted by the Lombardy ATS, photographs the updated trend of the administrations for COVID-19, influence, pneumococcus and RSV, distinguishing by type of structure: from general medical doctors to ASST, to community pharmacies. The numbers confirm it: 64.549 doses of anti-COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the pharmacy, with 39,884 doses delivered by the Doctors of General Medicine (MMG). In the case of anti-pneumococcic vaccination, pharmacies administered 10,369 doses, contributing significantly to an overall campaign that exceeded 71,000 administrations. Also in the flu campaign, pharmacies have totaled 257,366 administrations, one second only to MMG, well beyond that of ASST. In a few days, we read in a note, Lombard pharmacies managed to achieve results that often required weeks of activation by traditional channels. This evidence transforms the Lombard experience into a real “proof of concept”: entrust also to pharmacies the delivery of vaccines other than COVID and influence not only is feasible, but is strategic for public health. “Prevention is the best form of care and strategic investment for our health service – says Andrea Mandelli, president of the Federation of Orders of Italian Pharmacists (FOFI) -. The extraordinary adhesion of Lombardy citizens confirms the value of the choice of Lombardy Region to expand the free vaccination offer and the involvement of pharmacists in vaccination, making prevention truly accessible to all. The possibility for pharmacists to also administer the anti-pneumococcic vaccine – in addition to those against influence and Covid – enhances the proximity and capillaryity of our presidi and the relationship of trust with citizens to meet the health needs of the most fragile population groups. With vaccination, pharmacists offer a concrete contribution to the relaunching of prevention and strengthening of the model of territorial health promoted by the Region, founded on proximity, competence and trust”. Currently, the possibility of administering vaccines in pharmacy has been authorized by law only for anti-COVID and flu vaccines, but the situation is destined to change. For a long time we have been discussing in Parliament a law that broadens the vaccination skills of pharmacies, allowing them to administer all other vaccines provided by the National Vaccine Prevention Plan, such as those against pneumococcus, HPV or diphtherite-thetano-pertosses. The basic idea is simple: make prevention more accessible and capillary, taking advantage of the network of over 19,000 Italian pharmacies also distributed in small towns and neighborhoods less served. Change could actually be closer than it looks. In the so-called “Semplifications” bill, a rule was inserted in the autumn of 2025 in this direction: extend the vaccination offer in pharmacy to all citizens from 12 years on, with clear rules on staff training, traceability and integration in regional health systems. If approved, this reform would mark an important turning point in Italian territorial health, offering citizens a new gateway to prevention, while also lightening the burden on MMG and vaccination centers. While the national legislator discusses, Lombardy has already moved the first operational step. A regional resolution of September 2025 authorized pharmacies to expand the vaccination offer beyond COVID-19 and influence. The result was a significant increase in the administration of adult vaccines, as shown in the above data. Lombardy experimentation not only tested operational feasibility, but also showed a high level of acceptance by the population. Adhesion has exceeded expectations, with a rapid booking of places available for COVID, influence, especially pneumococcus.“ The model that emerges from this regional experience – we read in the note – is consistent with the principles of the National Plan for Vaccinal Prevention 2023-2025 and with the Vaccinal Calendar for Life 2025: health must approach citizens, not the contrary. Offer vaccination in a family context and accessible as the pharmacy can increase coverage and reduce vaccination, especially among adults. Lombardy has, in essence, shown that pharmacies can be a strategic force in vaccination prevention. Now the national legislator will be able to grasp this opportunity and give a stable and clear regulatory framework to a service that has already demonstrated its effectiveness.”.
– Pfizer press office photos –(ITALPRESS).
