Schillaci revokes the appointments of the Vaccine Group

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci has reportedly signed a decree revoking the appointment of all members of the National Technical Advisory Group on Vaccinations (NITAG) . In recent days, the body has been at the center of controversy over the positions of two of its members on vaccinations. The director of the Veneto Region's prevention department, Francesca Russo, had refused to be appointed to the NITAG due to the presence of two doctors known for their anti-vax stances, Paolo Bellavite from Verona and Eugenio Serravalle, a Tuscan pediatrician. Following the signing of the revocation of all NITAG members, the Ministry of Health announced in a statement, "it is deemed necessary to initiate a new appointment process for NITAG members to involve all interested categories and stakeholders." The minister noted that "the protection of public health requires the utmost attention and serious, rigorous, and discreet work. We have always worked in this spirit and will continue to act in the exclusive interest of citizens."

Order of Physicians

"We warmly welcome the initiative of Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, who signed the decree to eliminate the composition of the National Council of Physicians and Dentists (NITAG). As doctors, we wholeheartedly agree with his statement: health must be protected with scientific rigor." This is how Filippo Anelli, president of Fnomceo, the National Federation of the Orders of Surgeons and Dentists, welcomed the news of the signing of the decree revoking the NITAG, the body that provides technical support to the Ministry of Health for decisions regarding vaccination policies, which was renewed ten days ago. This signing came after controversy over the inclusion of some members who in the past have held positions on vaccinations not supported by scientific evidence.

The controversy

The controversy arose over the appointment of the two doctors, known for their anti-vax stance, as consultants to the Ministry of Health's National Technical Advisory Group on Vaccinations (NITAG). The two had faced criticism for publicly expressing anti-vaccine views, particularly regarding pediatric and COVID-19 vaccines. Their inclusion on the committee sparked disapproval from scientific societies, academia, and healthcare professionals, who feared it would undermine scientific communication and undermine trust in the vaccination system.

The Transversal Pact for Science (promoted by Guido Silvestri and Roberto Burioni) had launched a petition calling for the revocation of the appointments, arguing that the state's advisory bodies should be composed of experts with proven adherence to the scientific method and faith in the effectiveness of vaccinations.

A significant segment of the scientific community had expressed concern about the message these appointments were sending, while some political figures had criticized Schillaci for favoring these appointments. Furthermore, a recent committee member, Francesca Russo, had resigned in protest at the presence of these doctors on the panel.