![Second invitation for booster shots for over-65s issued due to case rise](https://maltadaily.mt/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/vaxweb.jpg)
Local health authorities are set to issue out new invitations the coming week for those aged 65 and over who missed out on their first appointment for the second booster dose.
Health minister Chris Fearne tweeted out on Monday saying that the omicron variant driven rise in community COVID transmission underlines the importance of maintaining high levels of immunity.
The administration of the second booster started early in April, rolling it out to immunocompromised people and those aged over 80.
The omicron #variant driven rise in community #covid transmission underlines the importance of maintaining high levels of immunity. Next week the #Health Dept will be sending out new immunization dates to 65+ residents who missed their first appointment for the 2nd #booster dose.
— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) June 20, 2022
This comes as the number of new COVID-19 cases soared to 315 on Sunday, which is the highest since the middle of April. Deaths due to virus have remained low, with an average of one person dying every two days in the past week.
Times of Malta had reported last week that the hospitalisation rate tripled from 2.3 per 100,000 patients to 6.9 per 100,000. This was revealed by a weekly review conducted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
On Friday, there were 50 hospital patients who tested positive for the virus, half of whom are non-symptomatic. Three were being treated in the ITU, with the average age being that of 66.
Figures also showed that just over 1,000 tests carried out daily, the positivity rate had risen to around 20%, which is one in every five. This does not include people testing positive via home kits.
#MaltaDaily