Asked on Monday on a public television program called Roy whether Italy would have suffered even “worse” numbers without the vaccines, Marcello Gemmato replied: “You’re the one who says that. We don’t have the reverse burden. Evidence’.
“I don’t fall into the trap of positioning myself for or against vaccines,” said Georgia Meloni, the undersecretary for health in the new far-right government, “decrying an ideological approach to managing the epidemic by the previous administration.
Pharmacist by profession, Ms. This close friend of Meloni’s, a deputy of his post-fascist party Fratelli d’Italia, opposed Chamber’s outgoing, health clearance and vaccination obligation.
His statements provoked strong reactions.
“But how can we say that there is no scientific evidence that vaccines have been used to save millions of lives? You only need to know how to read the scientific literature,” responded infectious disease expert Matteo Bassetti on Twitter.
Azione (centre) president Carlo Calenda calls for the resignation of Marcello Gemmato. “There is no place for an undersecretary of health who doesn’t distance himself from No Vaccination,” he said.
Democratic Party leader Enrico Letta also urged him to leave office on the same terms.
The far-right MP claimed in a statement on Tuesday that his comments had been taken out of context.
“Vaccines are invaluable weapons against Covid, my words have been taken out of context and turned into tools,” he pleaded.
Italy was the first European country to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020. As of November 10, the number of people infected stood at 179,985, according to the Ministry of Health.
“Total coffee junkie. Tv ninja. Unapologetic problem solver. Beer expert.”