As from tomorrow, the seasonal influenza vaccine will be available from Health Centres in Gozo and Malta.

The Health Ministry in a statement, said that it has ordered 100,000 vaccines and in the first week it will be available free of charge to those people considered of high risk, children under 5-years of age, all persons aged 65 years and over and persons suffering from chronic illnesses, or those in homes, then from the following Monday it will be available free of charge to everyone.

Minister for Health Chris Fearne said that the best means of preventing flu is through vaccination. “For this year the Government is providing a way to prevent it with a vaccine that covers four different types of influenza, two of type A and two of type B, in what is called a quadrivalent vaccine.”

He explained that in previous years the Government had used the trivalent vaccine, which covered three types of influenza. Last year 87,484 doses were administered, with 44% of the people aged over 65.

Dr Fearne also said that between October 2018 and May 2019, a total of 9690 patients were examined for respiratory problems. Of which there were 642 positive for Influenza A H1N1; 448 for Influenza H3 and 3 for Influenza B. From the monitoring conducted in the summer this year, the kind of influenza identified was AH3.

The Government advised that the vaccination should be taken as early as possible, ideally during October and November, so that the protection provided is at its best for when influenza is expected to be at its peak, from December onwards .

In Gozo, the vaccine is available from the Health Centre in Victoria, as well as by arrangement at Local Councils.

All persons are to present their I.D. or residence card in order to receive the vaccine.

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