The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the Pfizer / Biontech vaccine, triggering the process for vaccines to reach member states and start administering the vaccine in European countries, including Malta.
The first vaccines will arrive in Malta on Saturday, December 26 and the first vaccination will be given on Sunday, December 27.
This was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne who explained how on the first day, December 28, the vaccine will be given to the front-liners in Mater Dei who work at the ITU, the IDU, Emergency and wards that welcome Covid-19 positive patients.
Front-liners from the Health Centers, the Gozo General Hospital, the Monte Carmeli Hospital, and the Boffa, St Thomas and Good Samaritan hospitals will be vaccinated in the following days.
Vaccination of staff and residents in St. Vincent de Paul and later staff and residents in other nursing homes will begin on 1 January, and the first letters will be sent to professionals. doctors working in the private sector. The first letters are expected to be sent to those over the age of 85 living in the community on January 7. He appealed for the public to make a point and honor the appointment that has been given.
The Deputy Prime Minister also launched a new helpline, 145, on which the public can call to inquire about the vaccine and its appointment.
“Today I am happy this is good news, we have started the road to start breathing, not far away, all of Malta is starting to breathe,” said Minister Fearne
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Secretary in charge of the Medicines Authority, Deo Debattista, welcomed the news and said that this was an important step towards the beginning of normalcy. He thanked the professionals and specialists of the Malta Medicines Authority who made an active contribution through the valuable and ongoing work done in the context of discussions, evaluation and scientific advice given at European level in the many fora. of the EMA. This active collaboration of these specialists within the Medicines Authority has led to a positive decision to place the vaccine on the European Union market.
