Samoan Government Eager to Restart MMR Vaccinations

The Samoan government is eager to restart the MMR vaccinations programme after it was suspended for several months following the deaths of two children last July.

Pacific Representative Sheldon Yett said there is some public hesitancy and it was understandable, but they are doing their best to reach out to the people. Yett said the Samoan government was eager to get the programme back up because of the current international measles outbreaks. "We are working with our colleagues there to ensure that there was refresher training given to health staff on good immunization practise, standard safety procedures, effective vaccine management and storage."

Yett highlighted that they are also working with communities to ensure that they understand the need to get their children vaccinated as quickly as possible. He said supplies of the MMR vaccinations were available in Samoa for a planned re-start of the programme in early April.