The COVID-19 vaccination centre at the MCAST Campus in Paola opened on 12 March, with vaccinations being given to priority groups identified by the health authority. The College is continuing to collaborate with the health authorities in the fight against Covid-19 and supporting the community by hosting the vaccination centre and providing space at its Paola Campus.

MCAST Principal and CEO Professor Joachim James Calleja said: “I am immensely proud of the staff and students of our nursing degree programme who have volunteered to work at the vaccination centre so that we can join the national efforts to ensure people in Malta benefit from the vaccine as soon as possible. The College needs to serve the wider Maltese community, and we will continue to help in every way we can at this difficult time.”

MCAST is working closely with the health authorities to offer an efficient service over the coming months. The Foundation for Medical Services (FMS) equipped the venue with the necessary signage, 10 vaccination booths as well as a clinic and reconstitution area. The MCAST Campus vaccination centre is ideally located in the spacious student house hall with easy access to parking facilities. Vaccinations at the centre are strictly by appointment, with those eligible at this stage being contacted by the health department.

Paula Grech Bonnici, Director at the College’s Institute of Applied Sciences, said: “My sincere thanks go to our nursing degree staff and students for all their help in offering this vital service. In 2020 the first cohort of nursing graduates of the Northumbria University bachelor’s degree joined the health services and are now front liners. As of the present academic year, the Nursing bachelor’s degree is a double badged programme, offered jointly by MCAST and Northumbria University.”

Northumbria University is ranked 9th in Nursing & Midwifery degree programmes in the UK according to the Guardian University League Tables 2020. The Nursing department has outstanding success rates, with post-graduation employment rate ranging between 96% to 100%.