Health Minister Chris Fearne and Superintendent of Public Health Prof Charmaine Gauci, have held a joint press conference today.

Dr Fearne announced that changes will be made in the proposed abortion bill, one of which clarifies that a foetus which is “viable” must be born.

Two issues of concern had been raised during discussions, Dr Fearne said, one being that a termination could take place during the the later stages of pregnancy. However, Dr Fearne stressed that a foetus that is “viable and can live outside the womb should be birthed and we will introduce an amendment to clarify this.”

The second of the issues that were raised was that doctors could “abuse the amendment.” Dr Fearne said the government would be “proposing amendments to minimise the possibility of abuse.” No details were offered as to what these would be.

In other health related news Dr Fearne and Prof Gauci explained that the age for children who are eligible to be vaccinated against Covid-19 has now been lowered to six months. This is because the European Medicines Agency has authorised one of the vaccines available for this age.

Parents are now able to take their children over the age of six months to be vaccinated against the virus. Vaccinations are free and can be taken at any health centre. In Xewkija, Gozo, it is available on Wednesdays between 2:30pm and 6:30pm.

Dr Fearne also said that their had been a small increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, with 18 patients currently receiving treatment in Mater Dei Hospital, none are in Intensive Care. He did not mention Gozo General Hospital. The seven-day average is around 30 cases a day.

He added that as expected, the number of cases had been increasing in the last weeks when the weather had changed and started to cool down.

Dr Feane also announced that the HPV vaccine will start being given to boys from the age of 12-years.

Invitations will be sent out to boys from this age, who will be given two doses. Boys aged 15 and over will be given three doses.

Prof Gauci explained that the HPV virus is transmitted through sexual activity with another person. She added that starting the vaccine from the age of 12, before a person becomes sexually active, means that it can be more effective. If the vaccine is administered after a person starts being sexually active it is less effective.

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.

The Health Minister also spoke about the situation of shortage of medicines that is being reported around the world, and 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.

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