Teams of medical workers are venturing into some of the most isolated regions of the Balkans as part of Montenegro's COVID-19 vaccination drive.
Vaccinating Montenegro's Mountain Villages
- By Reuters
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A vehicle carrying health-care workers and a Red Cross volunteer drive to a mountain village in the remote Kolasin region of central Montenegro.
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Health-care workers in the mountain village of Ljevista on May 10
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A villager receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot next to an alcohol distiller in Ljevista.
Montenegro has a population of around 620,000 people, about one-third of them in rural communities.
Montenegro has a population of around 620,000 people, about one-third of them in rural communities.
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A health-care worker and a Red Cross volunteer walk through the village to the next recipient for a vaccine.
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Workers prepare vaccine shots for an elderly couple.
Montenegro received some 42,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from the European Union in early May.
Montenegro received some 42,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from the European Union in early May.
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A Red Cross volunteer carries vaccine doses through the mountain village.
The European Union has been criticized by some politicians in the Balkans for not providing greater aid to the region -- including to candidate and other nonmember countries -- when help was needed the most during the pandemic.
The European Union has been criticized by some politicians in the Balkans for not providing greater aid to the region -- including to candidate and other nonmember countries -- when help was needed the most during the pandemic.
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Locals wait to receive the vaccine.
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A medical worker prepares an injection as an elderly villager waits.
As of May 12, a little over 5 percent of the population of Montenegro had been fully vaccinated.
As of May 12, a little over 5 percent of the population of Montenegro had been fully vaccinated.
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Villagers speak with the team of medical professionals after receiving their shots.
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A health-care worker fills out paperwork during the village expedition.
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Villagers relax in the spring sunlight after getting their vaccine shots.
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An elderly woman receives the vaccine. More than 1,500 people have died from the coronavirus in Montenegro since the pandemic was declared in early 2020.