MILAN (Reuters), Despite the fact that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations have been administered seven months ago, no decrease in effectiveness has occurred in general populations in Italy. However, some groups are experiencing a decline in their efficacy, according to the National Health Institute (ISS), Wednesday.

The report by ISS, the Health Ministry and the ISS examined data from 29 million people who received at least two doses of the mRNA vaccine. Pfizer (NYSE: Moderna (NASDAQ:)

According to the study, the effectiveness of infection in general populations remained at 89% after seven months, while it was at 96% for hospitalisations and 99% for deaths six months later.

These findings differ from those from the Pfizer study on infection protection, published in Lancet on October 4, 2012.

The results showed that Pfizer/BioNTech’s effectiveness in protecting against infection fell to 47%, compared with 88% 6 months later.

The ISS study was not influenced by the Lancet study. This study focused on the electronic health records of 3.4million members of a U.S. Healthcare provider but didn’t include information on occupation and compliance to mask guidelines.

Italy has strict rules regarding mask wear.

According to the ISS report, immunocompromised patients saw their immunity against infection decrease from 28 days following the second dose. The reduction varied depending on which disease caused the weakened immune system.

People with co-morbidities who were not immunodepressed but had co-morbidities reported an increase in infection protection. This decreased from 75% at 28 days, to 52% by seven months.

The ISS stated that although efficiency decreased slightly among older people and those in nursing homes, it remained over 80%.

When you compare the time when the Alpha variant was more prevalent to the one in which it was less popular, the efficacy of infection dropped from 84.8% down to 67.1% while hospitalisation protection declined from 91.7% up to 88.7%.

It is the Institute’s reports that the Italian government considers when making health-related decisions. Rome should decide within the coming weeks whether or not to offer a third vaccination to its entire population.

Up to now, only immunocompromised people, patients over-80s and residents of nursing homes and other health professionals over 60 have received the third dose.

The European Union’s drug regulator EMA stated that anyone with a weak immune system should receive a third dose from Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna. However, it left the decision up to individual member states whether an increase in vaccine availability is necessary.