HMS Forth Delivers Coronavirus Vaccines to Tristan
Report from Fiona Kilpatrick, with addition photos from Randal Repetto and Sally Wonner
Wednesday 21st April 2021 was an exciting day on Tristan da Cunha, because the offshore patrol vessel HMS Forth arrived with Tristan's supply of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Getting the vaccines to Tristan quickly proved difficult because of the island's remoteness. They first had to be flown to the Falkland Islands before being picked up by HMS Forth for the final leg. Dr Alex Wonner and the Administrators Fiona Kilpatrick & Steve Townsend went out to collect the ship's doctor and the vaccine. The vaccines arrived safely at Camogli Healthcare Centre, and our team of medics will be starting on the vaccination programme as soon as possible.
The ship's doctor from HMS Forth delivers the vaccines to Vera Glass at the dispensary at the Camogli Healthcare Centre watched by Dr Alex Wonner and Administrator Fiona Kilpatrick.
HMS Forth anchored off Calshot harbour
Co-Administrators Fiona Kilpatrick & Steve Townsend, and Dr Alex Wonner head for HMS Forth on an island RIB
The vaccines are lowered down to the waiting RIB
HMS Forth
We are very grateful to everyone at the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, the FCDO, and many others who completed this logistics challenge so smoothly. We wish everyone on HMS Forth safe travels.