Italy: Venice turns water bus into covid-19 vaccination centre

Venice: Venice commandeered a public water bus, known as a vaporetto, for use as a floating clinic as part of the canal city’s efforts to vaccinate residents of more remote Venetian islands against covid-19.

The vaporetto, which took on its new role for one day only, was designated to reach people aged over 80 who reside on the island of S. Erasmo, with some older citizens also travelling from the nearby islands of Murano and Vignole.

The vaccinations were carried out aboard the red water bus on Easter Monday as the islands’ elderly residents queued up along the pier on the Isola di S. Erasmo, waiting their turn to get the jab.

The island’s parish priest and the local food supplier were reportedly “crucial” in liaising between health officials and the elderly residents, many of whom were unable to access the online booking system.