Samoa’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued an urgent call for children under 2 to be vaccinated following reports of possible measles outbreaks in New Zealand and Australia.
Acting Director General for Health, Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen, said that while the ministry is pushing for high vaccination coverage, it has also identified areas where immunization rates remain low.
These included the Northwest of Upolu from Saleimoa to Siufaga, Falelatai, and Laulii to Leauvaa, and Aleipata.
The MOH urged parents to ensure that all children below two years have received their measles vaccination.
The first dose is given at 12 months, and the second dose at 15 months.
The 2019 Samoa measles outbreak began in September 2019, and by January 6, 2020, over 5,700 cases of measles and 83 deaths had been reported.
The spread was mainly attributed to low vaccination rates.
There has been an increase in measles cases in New Zealand, which remains the center for the largest visitor arrivals in Samoa. The MOH is concerned that if the immunization rate remain low, an outbreak could occur in Samoa as well.
In Australia, different states have issued alerts for measles and called for vaccination.
In Western Australia, 51 cases have been confirmed so far.
