Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne took immediate action after The Malta Independent on Sunday’s story regarding queue jumping in the vaccination drive.

The Malta Independent on Sunday reported that as Malta's vaccination drive intensifies, people jumping the queue and getting their jab before they should remains a reality, with The Malta Independent on Sunday receiving multiple reports from individuals - including members of its own staff - who were offered the vaccine early.

Indeed three members of staff were approached by three individuals who offered to get them "put on the list" to receive their vaccine shot early.  These offers were all refused.

Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne called up The Malta Independent yesterday, asking for information on the people who approached the news organisation’s three employees with such an offer, however this newsroom did not feel it right to reveal its sources, especially Considering that the people who approached the company's employees were middlemen, and not the people who are playing around with the list themselves.

Currently, an inquiry is ongoing into the situation, based on the allegations issued by Opposition Leader Bernard Grech into the matter. Opposition leader Bernard Grech had called for an independent inquiry to see whether all those who took the Covid-19 vaccine were entitled to it. 

The way the vaccinations are supposed to work is, according to the health authorities, that: "when a person with an appointment does not show up, and the vaccine dose still has to be administered, the Health Authorities move on to following priorities consistent with that current cohort. Currently that is, among others, essential workers from the transport sector.”