Italy begins a mass vaccination campaign on the resident populations of its smaller islands as part of a plan to make them 'covid-free' ahead of the summer season. The vaccination programme, which focuses on smaller islands with minimal healthcare facilities, begins on 7 May with Capraia, off Tuscany, and the Aoeolian Islands, off Sicily.

The national plan, co-ordinated by Italy's emergency coronavirus commissioner General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, will see the entire adult population of the islands vaccinated against covid-19, reports Italian newspaper La Stampa. The campaign is designed to protect the island's at-risk populations as well as a bid to kickstart tourism as Italy prepares to open up to international visitors this summer.