Up to now 24,000 seasonal influenza vaccines and 15,000 Omicron boosters were given.

Seasonal influenza vaccine is being given free of charge to people over 55 and vulnerable people from health centres. People who will be prioritised in this programme are those suffering from chronic respiratory, heart, liver, kidney disease, diabetes, immunosuppressed people, pregnant women, health workers and workers at public institutions.

At the end of last week, children over six months of age started being vaccinated, where sessions dedicated to them are being organised every weekend. Children over 2 years of age will be able to avoid vaccination and instead take nasal spray against flu. From Monday 31 October 2022, the vaccination programme will be opened to the rest of the population.

The flu vaccine that will be offered to the public this year directly affects the type of flu that is expected to predominate in winter months and will therefore be very effective in alleviating the symptoms of flu that may be severe and even lead to hospitalisation. The health authorities, this year, bought about one hundred and thirty-two thousand doses of the vaccine, of which seventeen thousand are a spray for children.

On the other hand, a COVID vaccine booster targeted against the Omicron variant is being offered. It is currently granted to all people over the age of 55 and to vulnerable people. The booster can be taken at the same time as the influenza vaccine.

According to Superintendent for Public Health, Charmaine Gauci, the international health community noted that the flu season started earlier than usual. Prof. Gauci stressed that for every hundred people who go to the doctor, eight of them have flu-like symptoms.