Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne announced that Malta could be reaching herd immunity in the coming weeks. He added that Malta will be calculating herd immunity at the point when 70% of the whole population has been vaccinated by at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. No specific date was given as to when herd immunity will be achieved as it is completely dependant on the vaccination process.
Fearne announced this following the news that vaccination will be open for over-16s to apply in the coming weeks. Malta currently has over 60% of the population vaccinated with at least one dose. 56% of over 30s have been vaccinated or registered. Swipe for information on how herd immunity works.
Herd immunity is achieved once the majority of a population becomes immune to an infectious disease and provides an indirect protection to those who are not immune. The larger the level of immunity, the larger the benefit and thus vaccination is crucial.
Should 80% of a population become immune to the virus, four out of every five people who come into contact with the disease would not become infected. However, if measures are removed and vaccination slows down, surges of infection will be noted before vaccination can reach everyone.
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Photo Source: CIDRAP, Chris Fearne FB