ask charmaine

Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Ask Charmaine: Why do I need a second booster?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health answers Times of Malta readers

May 4, 2022| Charmaine Gauci
Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Watch: Charmaine Gauci answers readers' questions

Latest episode comes as Malta prepares to go mask free

April 27, 2022| Claire Farrugia
Scientific evidence also shows that previously infected people benefit from vaccines. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Ask Charmaine: Have any people contracted coronavirus more than twice?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health answers Times of Malta readers

April 20, 2022| Charmaine Gauci

Charmaine Gauci expecting a mask-free summer

Results from self-testing tests not included in official tally

April 13, 2022| Times of Malta
All adults who have received their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and did not take the third dose (booster) should receive a third dose when eligible. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Ask Charmaine: Will a fourth vaccine dose be offered to everyone?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health answers Times of Malta readers

April 6, 2022| Charmaine Gauci
For now, vaccines seem to protect people against the BA.2 subvariant as they do against the original Omicron strain. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Ask Charmaine: How many COVID cases are of the Omicron subvariant?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health answers Times of Malta readers.

March 23, 2022| Charmaine Gauci
Charmaine Gauci. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Gauci demands ‘responsibility’ as rallies seen ignoring COVID-19 rules

Superintendent of Public Health gives update amid rising cases

March 16, 2022| Claire Farrugia
Malta has been adopting a hybrid approach with country classification as red zones and dark red zones, along with a person-based approach on their vaccination status. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Ask Charmaine: When will the ‘red’ travel classifications be removed?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health answers Times of Malta readers.

March 9, 2022| Charmaine Gauci
COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer protection against hospitalisation and death. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Ask Charmaine: How long does protection last after a booster dose?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health answers Times of Malta readers.

February 23, 2022| Charmaine Gauci

Watch: COVID deaths caused directly by virus down to 50%

Review of funerals protocols underway

February 16, 2022| Times of Malta
A vaccine, while giving good protection, does not grant 100 per cent protection, which is why the other public health measures advocated remain critical layers of protection even when protected with a vaccine. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Ask Charmaine: Does the COVID vaccine really prevent deaths?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health answers Times of Malta readers.

February 9, 2022| Charmaine Gauci
The Malta Film Awards audience. Many were seen not wearing masks.

'Deviances from COVID rules are investigated': Gauci on no masks at film awards

Health chief questioned after Malta Film Awards audience went mostly maskless

February 2, 2022| Claire Farrugia

82% of COVID deaths since start of pandemic were directly caused by the virus

The figure went down to 67% in January thanks to various factors

February 2, 2022| Times of Malta
A sign outside a shop lists a number of precautions to take. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Ask Charmaine: Why have there been so many deaths in recent days?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from readers

January 26, 2022| Charmaine Gauci
A health worker conducting a swab test in a drive-through centre. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Ask Charmaine: How is quarantine calculated?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health answers Times of Malta readers

January 12, 2022| Charmaine Gauci
Many people are being admitted with COVID, rather than because of it. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Majority of COVID patients in hospital are admitted for other reasons

Number of those with virus-related complications are dropping

January 6, 2022| Claire Farrugia
A drive-through COVID test. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

People with COVID will no longer receive separate quarantine letter

Majority of virus cases in hospital admitted for other reasons

January 6, 2022| Times of Malta
Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Watch: Charmaine Gauci answers readers' questions on COVID-19

Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci has been taking readers' questions in the latest edition of Ask Charmaine. As many people - including Times of Malta staff - are working from home to help stop the spread of the virus, the programme was...

January 6, 2022| Times of Malta
Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Watch: 85% of current COVID patients have mild symptoms

No Omicron variant cases registered yet, says Charmaine Gauci

December 20, 2021| Times of Malta
Data on vaccine effectiveness against severe disease with Omicron is expected to take a few more weeks. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Ask Charmaine: ‘Does the booster work against Omicron?’

Public Health Superintendent takes questions from Times of Malta readers

December 15, 2021| Charmaine Gauci

Watch: Omicron fears lead to increase in booster uptake

A third of adult population has had COVID-19 booster jab

December 6, 2021| Times of Malta
An Israeli health worker administers a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to an eight-year-old child in Jerusalem. Photo: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP

Ask Charmaine: Will children be given one or two COVID jabs?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from readers

December 1, 2021| Charmaine Gauci

Watch: Authorities looking to 'boost the booster' rollout

European approval of vaccine for children expected on Thursday

November 24, 2021| Times of Malta
A woman takes a COVID home test. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Ask Charmaine: Is Malta considering self-testing home kits?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from readers

November 17, 2021| Charmaine Gauci

Ask Charmaine: ‘What happens if I get COVID after I have been vaccinated?’

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from readers

November 3, 2021| Charmaine Gauci

Two-thirds of over 70s have taken their COVID-19 vaccine booster

Public health chief Charmaine Gauci says no clusters from mass events

October 27, 2021| Claire Farrugia
No person receiving the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine has been hospitalised suffering from any of the side effects of the jab. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Ask Charmaine: Why is only Pfizer being given as a booster jab?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from readers

October 20, 2021| Charmaine Gauci

Ask Charmaine: Are booster doses leaving an impact? – Charmaine Gauci

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from readers

October 6, 2021| Charmaine Gauci
Charmaine Gauci takes readers questions on Times of Malta's Ask Charmaine. Photo: Jonathan Borg

‘We need to protect the children’ – Charmaine Gauci defends masks in school

Superintendent of Public Health answers readers questions as classes return

September 29, 2021| Claire Farrugia

Ask Charmaine: What is the current COVID R-factor?

Malta’s Superintendent for Public Health takes questions from readers

September 22, 2021| Charmaine Gauci