The Medical Association of Malta said it was surprised and disappointed by the 'very low targets' for the COVID-19 vaccination rollout declared on Sunday, which 'alarmingly reveal mathematical predictions which are completely wrong.'

The Malta Independent reported on Sunday that 1,400 were vaccinated against Covid-19 since the first inoculation was administered on 27 December, and the authorities target reaching ‘herd immunity’ by early summer.

In a statement on Monday, MAM praised the health ministry making arrangements to procure 500,000 vaccine doses from Pfizer, 100,000 doses from Moderna, and 1 million doses from Astrazeneca.

But it said the vast majority of healthcare professionals were feeling let down since only one out of ten had so far received the first dose of the vaccine.

"It is public knowledge that the government has in its freezers many more vaccines than (there are) front liners and about 19000 vaccines remain idle in the freezers. Clearly with proper organisation, all healthcare professionals may receive both doses in the next four weeks," the union said. 

The health authorities should also aim to vaccinate the whole population as fast as possible so as to make everybody safe and to kick start economic recovery as soon as possible, MAM said.

The union said it was alarmed that the authorities reportedly aim to provide only 5,000 vaccinations per week. This, it said, would mean that vaccination of the Maltese population could take three years.

It said that to vaccinate 6,000 front liners in five weeks with two doses meant 342 doses must be given per day including weekends and public holidays, or better 2394 per week 

To achieve herd immunity by vaccinating vaccinate 70% of the population in five months would require 3,733 vaccinations per day or 26,131 vaccinations per week.

By mid-February, the vaccination should have been administered to all front liners and those over 85 years before it is rolled out to others.