The second Covid-19 vaccine dose has been administered to the first elderly woman who had taken the vaccine, the government said in a statement. The woman resides in St Vincent de Paul.

Minister for the Elderly Michael Farrugia said: "Now that every resident in the home who accepted to take the first vaccine dose - 878 elderly residents, have received it, from today the second dose will start being administered to them." He also said that the employees who work at the residence will also be vaccinated.

By mid-February, it is expected that the St Vincent de Paul residents who took the first dose will have had the second vaccine dose administered, the minister said. "By the end of February it is expected that elderly people in all residential care homes, including private ones, would have the second dose administered."