Abstract
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries have begun vaccination campaigns, with different methods and timelines, with the goal of vaccinating over 75% of the population and thus achieving herd immunity. Initially it was necessary to identity the categories of citizens who should be the first to receive the vaccines, on the basis of scientific evidence. On the basis of this information, elderly residents in nursing homes and the staff who care for them should be the highest priority subjects for vaccination. In this context, obtaining informed consent to Covid-19 vaccination presents a considerable challenge, as the advanced age and frequent comorbidities of a significant number of the residents may mean that they are incapable of expressing consent themselves. The legislation of various Western nations substantially agrees on the general principle that those capable of judgement must be asked for their consent for healthcare services, and that even those with psychological weaknesses that limit their full ability to decide must be involved in these decision-making processes. The article can help systematize the processes to be implemented to protect the health of individuals as members of a close and fragile community.
Highlights
This objective has been achieved in record time [2,3] while respecting all the required phases for authorization to put the vaccinations on the market, under the aegis of the various drug agencies (EMA European Medicine Agency, FDA Food and Drugs Administration, etc.) [4,5,6,7,8]
In this context, obtaining informed consent to Covid-19 vaccination presents a considerable challenge, as the advanced age of nursing home residents and their frequent comorbidities may result in the inability to express their own consent
It has filled the legislative gap that omitted the people in a state of natural disability not hospitalized in healthcare facilities, for which, thanks to the new provision, will be followed under the same procedure as the people hospitalized in these facilities, as established by paragraph 2, for the sole purpose of consent to vaccination against COVID-19 [64]
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, worldwide efforts to contain its effects have focused on research [1] to develop vaccinations, often through synergy between the public and private sectors. This objective has been achieved in record time [2,3] while respecting all the required phases for authorization to put the vaccinations on the market, under the aegis of the various drug agencies (EMA European Medicine Agency, FDA Food and Drugs Administration, etc.) [4,5,6,7,8]. The twofold goal of vaccinating residential nursing home staff is to avoid having asymptomatic but contagious infected staff members spread the disease among residents, and to prevent negative repercussions on healthcare in nursing homes caused by staff absences due to illness
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