Lampedusa and Linosa will be the first Italian islands to be Covid-free. And that the decision also acts as a deterrent to the fear of holidays is confirmed by the mayor, Totò Martello, who embraced the idea, extending it to all the smaller Sicilian islands and presenting it to the regional health department. “Since we decided to go this route, the phones for summer reservations have started ringing,” he says relieved. And for islands that live mainly on tourism, it is easy to understand how much this is a more than valid reason to rush to get vaccinated.
Mayor, in the meantime, how many inhabitants are we talking about?
“We are 6500 in all, there are 425 Linosans. In the summer the number increases even five times. And summer is close for us, since in Lampedusa it is hot even in April. Already now there are 17 degrees”.
Has the vaccination campaign already begun? And have mRNA vaccines, which require very low storage temperatures, also arrived on the island?
“The campaign has already begun, following the priorities of the vaccination plan, therefore the elderly, health personnel of the Outpatient Clinic – 50, all vaccinated – and then teachers and law enforcement. The Pfizer vaccine for our elderly arrived by ship, in containers We then transported it to Linosa by helicopter, together with all the necessary copies of informed consent that it was not possible to print quickly on the island. And in Linosa the over 80s were ready to vaccinate, so as not to waste even a minute “.
But how many people have already been vaccinated and how many vaccinators do you have?
“From 8 to 11 March, 5 doctors came from the ASL of Palermo, on which we depend, and vaccinated 830 people, 680 in Lampedusa and 150 in Linosa, including 26 home vaccinations. Then we stopped due to bad weather, because the ship did not arrive and therefore the Civil Protection truck remained in Sicily. But now that the EMA has cleared the AstraZeneca vaccine we are ready for mass vaccination “.
And where will you do it?
“In March we used the premises of the Polyclinics, for the mass one we will use the gymnasium of the scientific high school. We are already preparing the list of people to be vaccinated and we hope – also taking into account the 15 minute wait after inoculation – to be able to proceed to several hundred a day. Bad weather permitting next Thursday we will start again with Pfizer and AstraZeneca “.
Will you be able to vaccinate everyone?
“We aim for at least 80% of the population. And in any case all those who have contact with tourists must be immunized: those who work in bars, restaurants, car rentals, shops. Those who rent houses. We cannot afford doubts”.
So do you think you can overcome the motivations of those who are afraid with economic reasons?
“The problem of fear exists, but not so much. There are many who instead ask me when they will be vaccinated, starting with the old people who were unable to do so in March because they were not available”.
Have you been vaccinated?
“No, because I do not fall into any of the categories envisaged so far. I think it is wrong that the island’s highest authority does not have priority, but I adapt and wait”.
Tell the truth, your idea of the Covid free Sicilian islands is the last resort to save the tourist season …
“It must be clear to everyone that if we don’t get vaccinated, tourists don’t come, preferring destinations where they won’t run any risks”.
And what will he ask of the arriving tourists?
“Traveling a lot, I realize that the only possibility is a vaccination passport that allows those who have done the two doses to take planes and ships. Getting around has become tiring, I recently returned from Rome and as a precaution I wore two masks, like recommended. But it’s really tiring to breathe too. So yes, I’m for the passport or green pass or whatever we want to call it. But since I don’t think it’s possible to get there before the summer then the question is what to do with all those who they won’t have it. “
Some regions will ask to accept passengers from ships or planes only if they present a very recent buffer. Or they will do it when they arrive.
“Certainly we are not able to swab hundreds of people on arrival. As for the obligation to swab for boarding, it would be useful, of course. But I don’t know how many would be willing to do it. Think of a family with three children, it becomes tiring to swab everyone before leaving. I think in the end we will accept everyone “.
Last question mayor: how will you deal with the hesitant and no-vax of the island?
“We will try to convince them with our good reasons. Or we will throw them overboard,” laughs Martello.
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