Fourth COVID jab will be necessary to fight virus says Pfizer chief

Mar 15 2022

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has revealed that most people will need to receive a fourth COVID-19 vaccination to beat the pandemic.

The company’s chief said that the first booster currently fights off the virus enough to reduce chances of hospitalisation. However, the second booster or fourth jab in total will be effective against the initial infection.

He said that the protection one is getting from the third shot is good enough, especially against death and hospital admission. But when it comes to infections, the effects don’t last very long.

The announcement comes just after Maltese health authorities revealed that extending the vaccine certificate to 12 to 17-year-olds could be a possibility.

Israel was the first country in the world to start introducing the jab, having already given out half a million injections of the fourth booster. It was offered to elderly citizens in hopes of protecting them against the Omicron variant.

However, a lead researcher in the study said that the vaccine is less effective against the Omicron strain. The Pfizer CEO has thus revealed that scientists at the pharmaceutical company are working on a jab which could protect agains tall variants of the virus.

It remains to be seen whether the fourth jab will become a worldwide necessity, as previously Maltese health authorities revealed that no plans to introduce it are currently present. However, Malta has enough jabs to cover this requirement, said Chris Fearne earlier this year.

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Forcing workers to join unions unacceptable says Grech

Mar 15 2022

Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech said that it is not acceptable to force workers to join a union. When asked by newsroom the Malta Independent, the PN leader revealed that the party disagrees with the concept of having all workers join a union.

Grech acknowledged that people should be free to join a union if they want as it is better for workers to be represented. This would give them a stronger position to fight for better wages and conditions.

However, making it mandatory, said Grech, is unacceptable. ‘We believe that which is found in the constitution, that everyone has a basic right to join a union, but are not forced to join’ said Grech. In the PL manifesto, the party agreed in principle with mandatory union membership.

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PL criticism of Lawrence Gonzi hypocritical says Bernard Grech

Mar 15 2022

Speaking during an interview on TVM News Plus’ Xtra on Monday night, Opposition leader Bernard Grech accused Robert Abela for being untrustworthy, dishonest and engaging in fear mongering.

Grech claimed that Abela’s only goal for this election was to achieve a better result than his predecessor Joseph Muscat. He also accused the Prime Minister for attacking Lawrence Gonzi, but not when he was receiving €7,000 per month from Gonzi.

This is in reference to the Planning Authority retainer that Abela’s legal office was awarded under Gonzi’s Nationalist administration. He also accused Abela of being untrustworthy for bringing Miriam Dalli over from Brussels and breaking his promise of not contesting her district.

‘Robert ibeżża Abela’ is only interested in power and resorts to lies’ said Grech. With the PN, however, people know where they stand, said Grech.

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I’ll be donating my government cheque to the PN says Eve Borg Bonello

Mar 15 2022

Youngest electoral and PN candidate Eve Borg Bonello revealed on video that she will be donating her €100 stimulus cheque to the party after thanking the government.

Borg Bonello thanked Prime Minister Robert Abela and Finance minister Clyde Caruana who personally signed the cheque, going on to say that she will exchange and donate the party to the PN.

The cheque will be donated to the Opposition during a fundraising marathon on Saturday, with Eve urging others to do likewise. ‘The PN needs your help so we can continue our electoral campaign and fulfilling our vision for Malta 2030’ she said.

The cheques are intended to help households cope with the inflation of basic items due to the pandemic. Workers and students will receive €100 and all pensioners and people on social benefits will receive €200.

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Photo Source: Eve Borg Bonello FB, Robert Abela FB