-
18
Nov
Registration of Dispute | Covid-19 Booster dose.
Subject: Registration of Trade Dispute against the Superintendent of Health, Permanent Secretary – Ministry for Health and the Commissioner of Police.
The Executive Committee registered a Trade Dispute against the Superintendent of Health, Permanent Secretary – Ministry for Health and the Commissioner of Police due to their lack of action to protect the health of the members of the Malta Police Force by not including them in the priority list of those receiving the Covid-19 booster, unlike what happened to other workers who are not in such a high risk as Police Officers.
The issue;
The Malta Police Union has been sending requests for Police Officers to be included with those receiving the Covid-19 booster for weeks, however no reply has ever reached the Union.
Police Officers, effect inspections at places of entertainment, inspections related to Covid-19 restrictions which include duty at the Quarantine Hotel, and also attend places both public and private where there are breaches of the Law. Everyone calls the Police when in need, even if that duty does not necessarily pertain to the Malta Police Force.
In November 2021, the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister stated that ‘it is clear that the effectiveness of the Vaccines are waining’. This after the health authorities recorded 40 new cases. Now the country is having 64 cases.
We also remind that back in February 2021, same Deputy Prime Minister thanked all members of the Force for their work during the pandemic, telling them they had been of support during these difficult times.
On the same occasion, the Home Affairs Minister stated that the life of members of disciplined forces has changed in the past months as these had to adapt to a different reality.
They stood up for the Country when needed, Home Affairs Minister said, and once vaccinated they would be better prepared for the comming weeks and months.
If one consults the website of the Deputy Prime Minister [Covid-19 Vaccinations] the following statement emerge;
EMA has allowed for the use of the booster dose to be left at the discretion of each Member State, depending on supply and individual Government policies. The Maltese Health Authorities have decided to offer the booster dose to all persons over 12 years. The booster dose should be given after 6 months have passed from the second dose of any Covid-19 vaccine (or from the single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine)[i].
We remind that Police Officers received their 2nd dose around April 2021, far earlier than other categories who are receiving their booster dose, and who although their profession may put them in some danger, these work mostly with their bubble and that’s it.
Police Officers face everyone, every day at every time. They enter people’s homes without even knowing who there is. Is this not enough for the authorities to protect their health.
It is useless doing press conferences when in reality, these are just a show. How come Police Officers who are aged 45 and over have to register now, almost 2 months before when others registered and received the appointment in just 1 week. If this is not a shenanigan, we have no definition for it.
Conclusion:
The Malta Police Union is requesting that Police Officers be given their third dose before the yuletide period begins.
The Malta Police Union is also informing that instructions will be issued to its members to protect their health. If the Police Force and the Government will not, the Union will.
Police officers cannot be used when needed, then forgotten. Why are Police officers always treated as 2nd Class citizens when their service to the country is second to none.
[i] https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/health-promotion/covid-19/Pages/vaccines.aspx
