Overview

• On August 16, Health Minister Orazio Schillaci signed a decree revoking all 22 appointments to the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group after two vaccine-skeptical doctors refused to withdraw.
• A petition organized by Patto per la Scienza and supported by Nobel laureate Giorgio Parisi gathered more than 35,000 signatures in days demanding the removal of the contested appointees.
• Scientific bodies including FNOMCeO and the Italian Society of Pediatrics lauded the move as essential to maintain rigour and public confidence in national vaccination policy.
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni privately criticized the unilateral timing, describing the dissolution as “not agreed” and exposing tensions between the ministry and Palazzo Chigi.
• The Health Ministry plans to launch a stakeholder-driven, transparent nomination process after the summer recess to rebuild the NITAG.