With the islands, like the Greek economy at large hugely dependent on tourism, the vaccination programme – codenamed Freedom – has elicited overwhelming support. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo
Isles scattered across the Aegean archipelago are to become the first “Covid-free” areas of Greece as vaccination efforts intensify in tourist destinations hoping for an influx of summer visitors.
In one of the biggest operational challenges of modern times, authorities have vowed at least 69 islands will be fully vaccinated by the end of April.
“We have so many smaller isles,” said Marios Themistocleous, the health ministry official overseeing the programme. “Precisely because they’re so difficult to get supplies to, we decided to vaccinate entire populations in one go with the aim that when they begin receiving tourists, permanent residents are fully vaccinated and protected.”