The vaccination, free of charge, against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which until now was given to all girls when they turn 12 years old, has also been extended to boys of the same age, announced Deputy Prime Minister Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne, who explained the scientific evidence shows that this vaccine, in addition to preventing cervical cancer, also prevents other types of cancer caused by the spread of HPV virus in the community.
He explained that from this year, both boys and girls will receive a personalized invitation in the month of their 12th birthday with an appointment for the first vaccination, while the second dose will be taken six months later. The deputy prime minister said that the health authorities will also offer this vaccine, free of charge, to all boys born since the year 2000, and that they will receive an appointment for vaccination gradually. He explained that in the case of boys who have already turned 15, a third dose will be needed, which will also be offered by the government free of charge.
The deputy prime minister recalled that this measure is another electoral promise fulfilled and that it will save parents €190 per dose. It meant that as long as this vaccination has been offered to the girls, around 90% accepted the invitation and thus vaccinated around 20,000 girls against this virus.
During the same news conference, the deputy prime minister announced that the vaccine against COVID-19 has been authorized by the European Medicines Agency for children between 6 months and five years. This while the Omicron booster was also approved for older children who had already received the first two doses of the vaccine. Therefore he encouraged the parents who wish to vaccinate their children to visit the health centers of Floriana on Thursday, Mosta on Tuesday, Pahal on Wednesday, and Xewkija Gozo on on Wednesdays between 2:30pm and 6:30pm in order to receive this vaccination.
He also reminded that the Omicron and Influenza booster vaccinations are still open to adults as well and therefore appealed to those who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.
The deputy prime minister also spoke about the situation of shortage of medicines that is being reported around the world, where he reassured the patients that the POYC medicines situation is under control thanks to a series of proactive measures taken by the health authorities in the past months. He said that he is aware of the difficulties that importers are finding supplying the private sector and reiterated that the health authorities are assisting this sector as well.
The Superintendent for Public Health Charmaine Gauci appealed to parents to welcome the invitations of the health authorities and protect their children from viruses that can affect their children’s health in the future. She stressed that the HPV vaccine that is being offered to Maltese teenagers is one of the best on the market because it protects teenagers from 9 types of HPV viruses.
Photos (ODPM-MFH)
