19 Jul 2018

WHO urges Samoans to keep vaccinating children

From , 3:05 pm on 19 July 2018

A World Health Organisation's vaccine expert in the region is asking Samoans to continue on with immunisations for their children as it saves lives.

Two one year old infants died shortly after being vaccinated at a hospital in Savaii with the MMR vaccine this month.

A post morten has been completed, and health investigations are ongoing with all MMR vaccines halted in the interim.

Meanwhile police have announced an inquest next Wednesday to investigate the cause of death.

A vaccine expert at the WHO Western Pacific in Manilla travelled to Samoa last week by invitation of the Samoa government.

Dr Ananda Amarasinghe told Sara Vui-Talitu any death after a vaccination calls for them to investigate too, but in the interim wants people to keep getting vaccinated.

Measles, MMR (file photo)

Photo: 123RF