Chief Executive Officer Central Procurement and Supplies Unit Karl Farrugia, tweeted this morning that the the first batch of 10,000 Covid-19 vaccines were on there way to Malta, with the flight having landed just before 10.45am this morning.
The initial 10,000 doses were met at the airport by Prime Minister Robert Abela and Health Minister Chris Fearne, who walked out to the plane to watch the two specially boxed, cold containers, packed with ice – as above – being unloaded.
An IDU nurse at Mater Dei Hospital will the first to receive the Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday.
Tomorrow, the 28th of December, the vaccine will be given to the frontliners in Mater Dei who work at the ITU, IDU, Emergency and wards that welcome Covid-19 positive patients, as well as staff at primary care centres and swab centres.
On the 29th of December, vaccinations will take place on staff at the Gozo General Hospital. Staff at at Mount Carmel, St Thomas, Boffa, and the Good Samaritan Long-Term Care Facility, will be receiving it on the 30th.
Vaccination of staff and residents in St. Vincent de Paul and later staff and residents in other nursing homes will begin on the 1st of January, and the first letters will be sent to medical 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 the 7th of January.
The public are being requested to honour the appointment that has been given. Everyone who attends must take their letter and ID card with them.
The freephone number 145 has also been launched. This serves as an information number for those who have questions, or for another appointment should they not be able to attend the one allocated to them for the vaccine.
The Health Authorities advised that the vaccine is free of charge and is not mandatory. While the public are encouraged to have it, anyone not intending to take the vaccine should please call 145 to have their dose assigned to others.
Top photo: Karl Farrugia twitter and below PM Abela Facebook