Voluntary interruption of pregnancy (VIP) in Italy: interpretation of the current situation according to the report 2019-2020 of the Italian Ministry of Health.

Abstract: Voluntary interruption of pregnancy (VIP) in Italy is regulated by Law no. 194/1978. Its monitoring is carried out by the VIP Epidemio-logical Surveillance System, which periodically analyses the results of questionnaires compiled by the territorial healthcare structures and sent by each Region. The latest report, covering the years 2019 and 2020, highlights the adequacy of preventive and proactive strategies, an improvement in the quality and effectiveness of the service offered. Furthermore, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the reorganization of the IVG application guidelines showed a considerable adaptation to the emergency context through measures such as the increase in pharmacological procedures compared to surgical procedures. The interpretation of the data shows that in Italy there is one of the lowest VIP rates in Europe, reflecting the effectiveness of campaigns that promote responsible procreation. Further implementations should be extended to the foreign population, which still shows a medium-high VIP rate. The efficiency of the service offered resulted to be high. The latter was assessed considering the waiting period required for the performance of the VIP procedure. Furthermore, the high percentage of conscientious objectors does not harm the healthcare service. The estimates show an adequate territorial coverage by the authorized structures compared to the female population of fertile age. In conclusion, the central action of planning, organization, and monitoring finds a valid ally in the territorial management entrusted to the Regions. The analyzed report reflects even more margins of efficiency and adequacy when considered within the particular historical context of the pandemic by COVID-19.

Maintain and increase vaccination coverage in children, adolescents, adults and elderly people: Let's avoid adding epidemics to the pandemic: Appeal from the Board of the Vaccination Calendar for Life in Italy: Maintain and increase coverage also by re-organizing vaccination services and reassuring the population.

The Board of the Vaccination Calendar for Life (Bonanni et al., 2014, 2017) [1,2]), a coalition of four major scientific and professional societies of public health physicians, pediatricians and general practitioners in Italy, made an appeal to health authorities in order to sustain vaccination in COVID-19 times. The five pillars to maintain and increase vaccination coverage at all ages are described as follows: 1) Guarantee paediatric vaccination coverage to all newborns and paediatric boosters and adolescent immunizations, not interrupting active calls and scheduled sessions. 2) Re-organise the way paediatric and adolescent vaccinations are offered. 3) Set-up recovery programs for vaccinations not carried out after the start of the COVID-19 emergency. 4) Provide the preparation of tenders for the supply of flu vaccines with suitable quantities to increase coverage in all Regions and Autonomous Provinces with extreme urgency. 5) Prepare plans to increase coverage for influenza, pneumococcal, tetanus diphtheria and shingles. The Board of the Calendar for Life appeals to the National and Local Health Authorities for a strong and coordinated commitment in favor of the widest offer and acceptance of vaccinations, whose vital importance for collective health is now even more evident to all, in order to avoid that delays in the necessary initiatives should add damage from other epidemics to those suffered by our population due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Tour operator liability in health protection for not informing travellers about health risks they could be exposed]. / Aspetti civili e penali della responsabilità del tour operator in caso di mancata informazione in merito alla possibile contrazione di malattie infettive.

Consumer-tourist is considered the weaker bargaining party in an "all included" travel contract, compared with tour organizer and tour vendor. That's why Statute Act protecting consumer's rights provides a specific discipline concerning this particular sector In front of widening of warrants for travellers, obligations for organizer and seller of the travel have been increased, and include now specific duty to inform travellers as well. According to the law such duties of information are consistent with travel contract performance itself. In such way, failing to inform client constitutes a breach of contract liable not only in the field of civil responsibility; the subject liable with such an omission may face criminal prosecution as well. More specifically we are in front of a breach of contract by the tour organizer who will respond of all damages concerned with such a breach. Damages will concern not only the price of the travel package, but also other damages connected with the illness suffered by traveller: compensation for spoiled holidays, biological damages, patrimonial damages (these last ones could include for instance expenses for medical treatments, just to quote the more likely one). In other words, tour organizer has to grant general organization of the tour which has to take place as specified on travel brochure, but traveller have to be provided also with any information, concerning documents necessary for the travel, whether passport or visa are needed or not, vaccinations peremptory or optional. It will be very difficult for tour operator be exempted from liability for damages if traveller hasn't been informed of health risks; the only possibility consists in managing to demonstrate that the obligation hasn't been compelled due to reason for which the operator couldn't be held responsible. Besides as we have already mentioned before, criminal relevance of such omission of information couldn't be excluded. In fact, it's true that such omission, notwithstanding its preventive nature, needs a specific statute provision to be criminally sanctioned. Anyhow a criminal court can consider such omission in a more articulated landscape, as one of highly symptomatic elements in a criminal behaviour within criminal offence of injuries, consumed or attempted, that could be performed through further actions or omissions.