Italy's regions can make covid-19 vaccination appointments available to all people aged over 16 from Thursday 3 June. "We can further accelerate our campaign to overcome this difficult season," wrote Italian health minister Roberto Speranza on Twitter yesterday.

“From 3 June, all regions will be able to open up to all age groups (over 16),” the government's covid-19 commissioner General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo said last week. Italy's move to ramp up its vaccination programme comes as the Italian drug regulator (AIFA) approved the Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine for 12 to 15-year olds earlier this week.