Italy will launch a massive, free coronavirus vaccination program early next year, and health workers and the elderly will be given priority, Health Minister Roberto Speranza told the parliament on Wednesday.

Speranza said the government had options to buy 202 million COVID-19 vaccine shots from various companies.

Italy was the first Western country hit by the virus, registering 56,361 COVID-19 deaths since the outbreak emerged in February, the second highest toll in Europe after Britain's. It has also registered 1.62 million cases to date.