Sicilian parishes and the cathedral of Palermo have now become temporary outpatient clinics where you can be vaccinated against the coronavirus, thanks to an agreement between the Sicilian region and the local bishops for this Holy Saturday.

At the moment, about 5,867 citizens between 69 and 80 years old will be immunized in response to the initiative signed between the president of the Sicilian region, Nello Musumeci and the Sicilian Episcopal Conference (CESI), which provides for the use of the premises of the Sicilian parishes as “vaccination point with the aim of accelerating the campaign, also involving unconventional structures to more easily reach the elderly population.”

The vaccination points of the parishes will be operational uninterruptedly until 6:30 p.m. today.

In the parishes of Palermo and the province, the vaccination of 1,339 people is scheduled only today, 716 only in the capital.

“It is an initiative so far unique in Italy that has both ethical and practical value and reaches directly to Sicilians who want to be vaccinated while participating in the Easter celebrations,” explained the President of Sicily.

For the Archbishop of Catania and President of the CESI, Salvatore Gristina, it is “a message of hope that we intend to send on the eve of Easter and, at the same time, an opportunity for closeness and solidarity towards the most fragile people in the tradition of the Church that wants to be a community that promotes people’s health ”.

“Last night (on Friday) they gave us the vaccines that we keep in the refrigerator. There are three doctors available and we will be there all afternoon”, explained Father Filippo Sarullo, parish priest of the cathedral, who explains that at the moment 78 people will be vaccinated.

Many parishes have not been able to organize themselves so in the end the number of 500 parishes that had been announced has not been reached and it will be about 150 in the entire region that will vaccinate with AstraZeneca.

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