As many as 4,400 elderly people living in 37 nursing homes across Malta and Gozo, as well as the ‘frontliners’ in these homes, are now starting to receive vaccinations against Covid-19, the Government has said.

Earlier this week the same process began at the the St. Vincent de Paul Facility, where about 70 people are being vaccinated every day, including employees. After three weeks, the dose will rise to 140 vaccines per day, it said.

The process began first among the elderly over the age of 85 and eventually will also see the vaccination of about 2,000 employees in nursing homes, which include both government, private and church homes.

The Minister for Senior Citizens and Active Ageing Michael Farrugia, explained that because the vaccine must be given in two doses, there is a plan for how it will be administered.

“Because of the possibility that the vaccine may have side effects, we need to see a plan for who gets it first and from which wards to avoid having sick people, such as employees from the same ward,” said the Minister.

The Minister said that the intention is that by the end of March the first dose of the vaccine will have been given to all seniors in residential homes in the country.

He reiterated his call for everyone to get the vaccine. “We must remember that the Government has made a large investment to ensure that there is enough vaccinations for everyone in the two doses we need. We know the restrictions that this pandemic has brought and the many families and elderly people who were affected because they could not see their relatives.

He concluded by saying that, “through the vaccine, we will be returning to normalcy and thus get the economy back on its feet, so that eventually the Government will be able to continue to support the welfare state of our country, increase pensions and strengthen the entire elderly and health sector.”

Photo: DOI/Kevin Abela

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