200,000 flu vaccine doses have been ordered, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said on Tuesday, adding that more could be ordered if needed.

Speaking to the press, Fearne said that the influenza season normally starts in October, and that it can impact the Covid situation.

Last year, Fearne said, Malta saw a record number of flu vaccines given, numbering 180,000. This resulted in a low number of flu cases last year, he said, adding that the wearing of masks also helped.

Fearne said that the government has the logistics in place to administer the flu jabs as well as the Covid-19 booster shots. A number of health centres and clinics will be limited to giving the flu vaccine and others to the booster shot. “If year-after-year we continue having both Covid and the booster, it seems that there will be a vaccine that will incorporate both in one on the market.”

Asked about this, the Deputy Prime Minister said that Moderna is working on such a vaccine.