A cruise ship, called HelpPR1, is being used as part of the Vanuatu Government's vaccination rollout, helping health officials get to inaccessible areas.
The virus is continuing to spread around Vanuatu, most recently with cases in Lo island, in the Torres group, and Vanualava island in Banks group, in Torba province in the north.
Photo: AFP
The virus has also been found on Aneityum and Tanna islands in Tafea province in south.
The cruise ship has areas specifically fitted for cooling vaccines, alongside with ventilators and other equipment, effectively making it an intensive care room.
It is part of the national response plan to help transport vaccines, health officials and other support staff around the country.
The program is being implemented in a partnership between Respond Global and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health.
The managing director of Respond Global, Ian Norton, said they have just completed a refurbishment of the vessel - a process that took more than three months.
HelpPR1 will be in Vanuatu until August this year.
When the HELPR1 departs Port Vila today for Sanma Province it will have over 30 people on board, including 16 doctors and nurses from Australia and New Zealand, who have been recruited by Respond Global for this trip.
