The Samoa Ministry of Health has issued a measles alert, warning of increasing cases in neighboring countries of New Zealand and Australia, imported by travellers returning from Asia and the Americas.
The Acting Director General of Health says Samoa’s immunisation program continues to push for high coverage, but does identify three areas with low immunisation rates:
1. Northwest Upolu: Saleimoa to Siufaga Falelatai.
2. Urban Areas: From Laulii to Leauvaa
3. Aleipata District.
The 2019 Samoa measles outbreak began in September 2019. By 6 January 2020, over 5,700 cases of measles and 83 deaths had been reported, most of them babies under 2 years old.
With a population of 200,874, that was an infection rate of over three per cent.
The recent health alert urges parents to ensure children under 2 years old to update children’s immunisation.
“Two doses of the measles vaccine are required, the first at 12 months and the second at 15 months with both doses required for full protection,” warns the Acting Director General, Auliamailae Tagaloa Dr Robert Thomsen.
According to Auliamailae, immunisation can be administered at any Health centre including district hospitals.
“The main immunisation entre at Motootua is also open on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.”
When the 2019 outbreak hit Samoa, immunisation coverage was at an all time low due to two babies who had died tragically after being mistakenly injected with anaesthetic medicine instead of the vaccine.
The incident landed two nurses in prison, and caused a stop to the national immunisation program.
Following the tragic double deaths at a Savaii district hospital, the Ministry of Health had failed to instill parents’ confidence in immunisation or promote the re-start of the national program.
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