Drone trials for vaccines in Vanuatu

Vanuatu has launched a three day trial for the delivery of vaccines to remote areas by drones.

The Vanuatu government is working with commerical companies as well as the UN children's agency, UNICEF, to develop the programme.

The trials began on Wednesday at Takara village, North Efate, with 100 community members, health workers and children watching the drones take to the sky for the first time.

Vanuatu's Prime Minister Charlot Salwai said he was proud of the country using innovative ways to help bring life saving vaccines to children living in remote communities.

Following the trials the government will consider using drones to deliver vaccines to health clinics on Epi and the Shepherds Islands, Erromango and Pentecost, as soon as January 2019.