As previously announced by the Health Ministry, as of Monday 19 July, a mobile clinic would be going around the island, daily, to encourage more people to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
This service was largely made possible thanks to members of the University of Malta’s Faculty of Dental Surgery, led by Prof. Nikolai Attard, who are utilising the Mobile Dental Unit as a vaccination clinic to help out with walk-in vaccinations in our communities.
This mobile clinic, now in its sixth year of service, is used as a dental clinic for outreach activities in all the towns and villages in Malta and Gozo, major events like Science in the City or Puttinu marathons, school screening events and served as a hub for clinically-oriented research projects.
The vehicle itself was financed by the University's Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT).
(From left to right: Ms Martina Cristiano, fifth-year MDS student, Mr Adrian Farrugia, MDU driver, and Mark Camilleri, MDH Staff Nurse)
On Wednesday 21 July, Health Minister Dr Chris Fearne engaged in a virtual conversation with the mayor of Zejtun, as well as with Prof. Attard himself, to get an update on the way things were progressing. Dr Fearne also spoke with the personnel who manage the mobile clinic.
“We are in front of the church, people are queuing up, and we are happy with this huge turnout – it means people are responding to our efforts”, said Prof. Attard.
“This is also a great opportunity for the Faculty to teach our students to literally walk the talk and not just talk about community services, but to actually go and provide a service directly in our community, to equip our students with soft skills and to instil in them the concept of teamwork, that if everyone pitches in, we will achieve more together!", he continued.
Dr Fearne thanked him and his team for their invaluable work, as with every vaccination they administer, “you bring us one step closer to normality”.
Watch Prof. Attard’s intervention below: