A total of 44,000 people over 55 years of age have gone to health centres to receive the seasonal influenza and the Omicron variant of COVID-19 vaccine, since the roll out was started 10 days ago.

Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Thursday that 63% of people who received the influenza vaccine also requested the Omicron variant vaccine.

The public health service in Malta is providing the vaccinations to all residents at no cost. The campaign began 10 days ago with older adults being given the go ahead first, whereas on Monday both vaccinations will be made available to the rest of the public.

The influenza vaccine is available to children as young as six months old, and both vaccines are available to children aged twelve years old and over.

Children between the ages of two and sixteen can receive the influenza vaccine via a nasal spray.

Additionally he also urged parents to take their children to take the vaccines over the weekend given that children will begin their mid-term holidays shortly.