Malta’s rugby union clubs and a number of student organisations have come together in a joint initiative to encourage youths to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
The social media initiative titled #GetVaccinated, which was spearheaded by the University of Malta’s rugby union team UM Wolves RFC, sees a total of five rugby union clubs and 15 University student organisations come together with one aim: to encourage youths to get vaccinated.
The initiative kicks off on Monday, the day when registration for the vaccine opens up to all those between the ages of 16 and 29, with all organisations and clubs taking part widely sharing the message to #GetVaccinated.
It comes as data in Israel, for many months the world leader in the vaccination ranking, shows that their vaccination programme has stalled at a critical moment – when herd immunity is within reach.
“Vaccination hesitancy in younger age groups has been pinned as one of the key factors behind this slow-down – and that is a scenario that we do not wish to see repeat itself in Malta”, the joint statement read.
“Even with the herd immunity target so close, and the number of cases at lows not seen in some 10 months, we cannot stop now – and that’s why we are urging youths to take up the possibility to get vaccinated”, it continues.
The organisations said that extensive vaccination is the only way that the country is going to emerge strongly from this pandemic, and noted that everyone needs to do their part to achieve the return for normality that everyone no doubt desperately wants.
They also called for vigilance: “The pandemic is still among us, and we encourage anyone who shows any symptoms of the virus to get swab tested immediately, even if case numbers are currently very low.”
The organisations also praised Malta’s health workers as heroes who have given everything for over 14 months, now administering an average of 7,000 vaccine doses every day while the country’s health systems keeps working regardless.
“Now, it’s time for us to do our small part. That’s why we have come together in this appeal: let’s all do our part to end this pandemic, and let’s get vaccinated”, they concluded.
The statement was signed by UM Wolves RFC, Kavallieri RFC, Falcons RFC, Overseas RUFC, Stompers RFC, Malta Health Students’ Association (MHSA), JEF Malta, Insite Malta, Betapsi Malta, Criminology Students’ Association (CSA), European Studies Organisation (ESO), Malta University Sports Club (MUSC), University of Malta Rowing Club, Malta University Historical Society (MUHS), Studenti Ħarsien Soċjali (SĦS), Junior Chamber of Advocates Malta (JCA), Studenti Demokristjani Maltin (SDM), University Engineering Students’ Association (UESA), S-Cubed – Science Students’ Society, and The Third Eye Malta.