Are there or don’t exist Ffp2 for children?
In some cases, the new legislation provides for the mandatory use of the Ffp2 mask even for children over 6 years of age, but parents (and others) complain about the impossibility of finding them. Here's what's going on
The case of Ffp2 for children is back in the limelight. Here's how and why.
Already in March 2021, Striscia La Notizia had carried out an investigation to understand if the Ffp2 masks also exist for children, but now the question is back at the center of the debate given that in some contexts the use has become mandatory starting from 6 years and up.
WHAT THE REGULATION PROVIDES
Although the legislation excludes children under the age of 6 from the obligation to use a protective device, it is, however, mandatory above the age of 6 to wear it for indoor or outdoor performances in theatrical halls, concert halls, cinemas, entertainment venues and other similar venues; for indoor or outdoor sporting events; for accessing and using public transport.
WHEN SHOULD THE FFP2 BE WORN AT SCHOOL?
The Ministry of Education has made it known that the use of Ffp2 is mandatory, for at least 10 days, in middle and high school in the presence of a case of positivity in the classroom.
ARE THERE FFP2 FOR CHILDREN?
Online there are retailers of “small” or “children's” Ffp2 masks, however, there are none certified. The explanation is that, being originally produced as a protective device for some categories of workers, the EN 149: 2001 + A: 2009 standard which regulates itscharacteristics does not take the smallest into consideration.
COMPLAINTS
Through the reports of Striscia La Notizia, thousands of devices have been seized or removed by e-commerce giants such as Amazon (but not only) which, due to a misleading wording (such as "Ffp2 small"), had induced many parents to buy them. Wearable devices even by the little ones, but in any case not certified for children.
As the journalist of Italia Oggi , Cristina Bartelli, also pointed out, it would be appropriate to find a solution given the return to school.
Superb all agree on the school to be kept open and for example no one seems to be entitled to resolve the issue of pediatric ffp2 which in Italy do not officially exist and are considered useful for protection purposes.
– cristina bartelli (@cribart) January 10, 2022
THE EXPERT'S COMMENT
In Striscia the general manager of UNI – Italian Standardization Body Ruggero Lensi had said : “The Ffp2 filter masks have been placed on the European Union market as respiratory protection devices for workers. So there are no certified Ffp2 for children. Minors were not considered normal because they are not workers and some parameters are only suitable for adults. There are Ffp2 of small size, but they cannot be considered valid for children ".
THE QUESTION OF CALMIERATED PRICES
Furthermore, according to the satirical news website , in the agreement between the Government and pharmacies "there is no fixed price of 0.75 cents for colored masks or PPE for children, pending clarification from the Commissioner Structure", he said the national secretary of Federfarma Roberto Tobia.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/esistono-o-non-esistono-le-ffp2-per-bambini/ on Tue, 11 Jan 2022 11:39:49 +0000.