Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from Times of Malta readers
What is happening with the COVID-19 situation across Europe? ‒ Tony
Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from Times of Malta readers.
I am an 86-year-old man. I need to travel by bus. How dangerou
Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from Times of Malta readers.
I read some articles about nurses in the UK who took the vaccine and had severe complications due to some allergies they had but there was no specific mention regarding their allergy. It was advised that if one suffers from allergies to certain medicines or food one should avoid the vaccine. I am allergic to penicillin (and blue cheese because of penicillin). Is it safe for me to take the vaccine? – Debbie Xuereb
Severe allergic reaction (like anaphylaxis) to any component of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a contraindication to vaccination. While reports of allergic reactions following vaccination outside the clinical trials are further investigated, persons with a history of severe allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis) to any other vaccine or injectable therapy (for example, intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous) should have a risk assessment to determine the type of reaction
When will COVID-19 vaccines be ready for distribution? – Maria Meilak
All vaccines must be approved by the European Medicines Agency before they can be distributed.
So far, there have been three applications by three pharmaceutical companies for approval. If it establishes that the vaccine is safe and effective, the agency will recommend that a marketing authorisation is granted.
It is expected that at least one of the vaccines will be approved by the end of 2020.
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Once authorised, the vaccines will be available to EU countries at the same time and with the same conditions.
The EU has secured two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine for its citizens, with each country receiving a number of vaccines according to its population.