Maltese virologist Dr Chris Barbara received the COVID-19 jab, becoming the first high-profile local to get publicly vaccinated. Barbara is the director of pathology at Mater Dei hospital and was included in the first cohort of those receiving the vaccine.

Barbara has been at the frontlines during this pandemic, battling to contain the spread of the virus. His vaccination was captured in a video by Brian Hansford, a TVM journalist who posted it to socials.

Currently, healthcare workers, elderly care home staff and residents, mental care home staff and residents, as well as citizens over the age of 85 are slowly being vaccinated as part of the first cohort.

The second cohort will include anyone over 80 along with all other frontliners, while the third will include anyone suffering from chronic illness, school and childcare workers and those over the age of 70. The fourth cohort will include those over 55 and finally the general public as part of the fifth cohort.

The vaccination that is currently being distributed is the Pfizer/BioNTech one that has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Malta could also be distributing the vaccines by Moderna and AstraZeneca if approved by the EMA.