Why are the CDC and WHO disagreeing on COVID-19 boosters for kids?

Jan 23 2022

Despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) stating on Tuesday January 18th during a media briefing that there is no evidence right now that healthy children need a COVID-19 booster, the CDC seems to disagree.

The WHO statement, which was issued by WHO Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan, comes just 2 weeks after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorised booster doses for adolescents aged 12 to 15.

This comes amid a surge in paediatric cases due to the Omicron variant wave. CDC data shows that this increase has been particularly high in children under the age of 5 who are not yet eligible for a COVID vaccine.

With countries like Israel and Germany recommending COVID-19 boosters for kids aged 12 and 17, it was revealed that two doses of an mRNA vaccine protect kids against severe illness which would land them in hospital or, worse off, ITUs.

A recent CDC study found that two doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine was 91% effective at preventing multi system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which is a serious condition which can occur in children who get infected with COVID.

Some paediatricians are saying that, despite if caught early in kids, they can recover, putting them through the illness is nonsensical given vaccines can prevent such cases.

Doctors and experts are strongly recommending boosters for kids who have health conditions such as diabetes, asthma and chronic lung disease. Boosters can also protect other kids or family members from infection.

During the WHO briefing, Swaminathan said that the aim with boosters is to protect the most vulnerable, which include the elderly, immunocompromised and even healthcare workers.

With around 60% of the world’s population having received at least one dose of the vaccine, but many have not yet been administered the first series of jabs. All experts are recommending parents hesitant about vaccination to speak to trusted paediatricians to move forward with the decision.

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Photo Source: Times of Israel

Less teenage pregnancies but increases in sexually transmitted diseases

Jan 23 2022

It was revealed that the amount of teenage pregnancies in Malta has gone down, but an uptick in sexually transmitted diseases was noted.

Speaking on behalf of Servizz Ghożża, Melanie Bonavia said that in the last five years, the number of teenage pregnancies went down. This was not the case for sexually transmitted diseases as many girls aged between 13 and 16 experienced as such.

Servizz Ghożża has been operating for over 30 years to provide young girls the support they need should they get pregnant. Around 40 girls were referred to the service last year.

The majority of the teenagers were 17-years-old, with the youngest one being 14-years of age. Teens who get pregnant before the age of 16 are still required to attend school or Servizz Għożża.

With their main head quarters moving from Ħal Qormi to Marsaxlokk two years ago, the service offers practical lessons which involve things like how to prepare baby bottles or what medicine/injections the children will need.

However, more in-depth topics are discussed – ranging from relationships, decision making and how to safely navigate abuse. Lawyers also teach the girls about custody of children and what responsibilities teenage parents have.

Counselling sessions for the parents and even the teenager’s friends are offered. To minimise the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, the service also expanded by having educators teach secondary school students about safe sex, the use of contraceptives and other important related topics.

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33 people taken to Maltese court for hate speech in 2021

Jan 23 2022

Just last year, 33 people faced charges in Court accused of spreading hate speech, mostly on social media platform Facebook.

Malta’s Police Force and the Victim Support Agency have expressed concerns that this type of speech has increased on social media. Not only that, but victims of such derogatory speech often find it difficult to report such cases.

In 2021, police investigated around 48 reports of hate speech, with 33 people from these cases taken to court over the offences. Inspector John Spiteri told TVM News that police noted an increase in such instances, particularly targeted at minority groups.

‘Even though it is important for one to have the right to their opinion, there are ways of expressing such opinions. The moment the opinion ‘goes overboard’ and it becomes a direct attack towards some minority, it gets classified as a crime.’

He also stated that it is almost impossible for police to be aware of every single hate comment which is written on social media. Despite this, police still investigated cases wherein hate speech was found but no report was filed.

The Victim Support Agency’s executive chief, Brian Farrugia, highlighted how victims often find it difficult to report hate speech. ‘Most of the time, it’s because these people don’t know where and how to report it.’

‘An element of fear of retaliation also exists – with victims fearing that the aggressor will do more harm if reported.’

Farrugia said that the groups most prone to hate speech are immigrants, people with different sexual orientations and even persons with disabilities. A person who is found guilty of such offences can receive a maximum 18 month prison sentence and a fine maximum of €23,000.

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Health authorities to reveal first phase of COVID exit roadmap this week

Jan 23 2022

On Saturday, Health Minister Chris Fearne said that the first phase of an ‘exit roadmap’ to gradually ease COVID-19 health restrictions will be unveiled this upcoming week.

Despite not elaborating that much further, Fearne said that the plan will lay out the dates when certain measures will be removed.

Speaking during an interview on ONE Radio, the Deputy Prime Minister stated how the measures will all be removed at the opportune moment, with hospitals and ITUs remaining under control concerning infections.

With around three-quarters of adults vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe, Fearne also remarked that Malta has one of the lowest rates of people worried by the pandemic.

He reiterated the importance of vaccinating against the virus, revealing that around 3% have still not taken the fist or second dose of the jab, and 20% still to take their booster shot.

Fearne also unveiled that the majority of people who died while COVID positive had not been vaccinated. Speaking about children’s vaccination, the rates is also one of the highest worldwide.

He urged for children in the 5 to 11 age group to get the vaccine, pointing to studies which show that the Omicron variant, which is currently dominant, is leading to more children being hospitalised.

With current restrictions limiting entry to establishments such as bars and restaurants for only vaccinated people and removing masks for groups of less than 2 fully-jabbed individuals, the easing of such measures will be revealed at some point this week.

The news was met with support by hotels and restaurants, with the MHRA even expressing its hopeful stance at the gradual return to normalcy after the measures were met with wide criticism.

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