Preparations for booster COVID-19 jab in final phases

Aug 4 2021

Preparations are underway to start administering the booster COVID-19 shot as medical sources are reporting lessening immunity in certain groups of people who had their jab earlier this year. iNews Malta were informed by governmental sources that the preparations are reaching their final phases, with the booster shot expected to start being rolled out in a few weeks. The same source also informed the newsroom that Maltese authorities ordered the booster shot for this year, next year and even 2023.

Medical professionals emphasised how the majority of those infected are unvaccinated individuals. There are still however occasional reports of people who get the virus despite being fully vaccinated. Foreign countries have started to experience this already and it was a predictable outcome. Israel has already start administering the booster shot to specific age groups, with Germany planning to start the rollout in September.

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Photo Source: The Conversation

Man charged with threatening wife with gun held at Mount Carmel

Aug 4 2021

A husband allegedly threatened his wife with a firearm after an argument over money escalated. The man, 57, from Iklin, had allegedly already been receiving treatment at Mount Carmel hospital after having been arrested on 26th July. The man reportedly loaded a gun which he took from his bedroom gun safe. The man’s wife and daughter called 112 for assistance, despite hanging up moments later as the man calmed down.

The man himself later called the authorities to state that what the women said on the phone was not true. Police, however, still made their way to the household and arrested the man. On Monday, the man was charged with causing his wife and daughter fear of violence as well as insulting and threatening his spouse and exceeding the limits of provocation.

Pleading not guilty, the man’s lawyer requested bail which Magistrate Charmaine Galea acceded to. The man was released against a personal guarantee of €2,000 on the condition that the man reside at Mount Carmel Hospital to continue treatment for what is alleged to be depression. Not abiding to this condition would result in the re-arrest on breach of bail.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti, thairath

Local FIFA player retires

Aug 4 2021

Local FIFA player Christian Spiteri this week has announced his retirement from competitive gaming. Christian appeared in many international FIFA events over the years, he was ranked 34th in the world. Christian did not only play international competitions but also local ones as he is the winner of the first two BOV ePremier Leagues.

Christian’s announcement was posted on his Twitter, where other noteworthy people in FIFA like local player Kurt Fenech and 2019 world champion MoAuba congratulated his career in his replies and wished him luck for the rest of his career. Spiteri in his announcement also said that he’s open to coaching or doing FIFA content.

Update on my future pic.twitter.com/23r6ogg8UQ

— Christian Spiteri (@SAF_Spiteri) August 2, 2021

The BOV ePremier League is the e-sports alternative to the BOV Premier League, the highest level of football in Malta. Every team in the Premier League is given the choice to appoint a FIFA player to represent them, with the players then using their Ultimate Team squad to beat the other players. Notable players consisted of Christian and football player Dunstan Vella. In the tournament, Christian represented Santa Lucia F.C. and won the tournament two years in a row.

We wish the best of luck to Christian and thank him for representing Malta internationally.

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Over 30% of Maltese 12 to 15-year-olds fully vaccinated

Aug 4 2021

MaltaToday was informed by the Health Ministry that 5,803 youth between the ages of 12 and 15 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The ministry revealed that 16,200 invitations were sent out to this age group, with 10,892 having recited at least one dose. The invitations were rolled out at the end of June as the EMA approved the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for the same age group. No major concerns in terms of side effects were recorded.

Under-15-year-olds will be issued a vaccine certificate through a PIN code which can be used as an alternative to the ID document number which adults find on the back of their ID cards. The children’s parents or guardians will receive important details through SMS. As the vaccination rolls out, 762,832 COVID vaccine jabs were administered up until Tuesday. As of writing this article, 385,049 people are fully vaccinated, meaning that 84.8% of the adult population is fully immunised against the pandemic.

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Photo Source: The Conversation