Samoa has lowest measles coverage

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 20 NOVEMBER 2019: UNICEF figures has shown that Samoa has the lowest measles vaccination coverage in 2018 compared to Tonga – 99% and Fiji – 81% for first dose. Samoa sits at only 40% for the first dose and 28% for the second dose.

Since declaring the epidemic on 16 October and a State of Emergency last Friday night, 15 babies and 1 adult have died from the virus.  Over 1,000 cases have been reported so far with over a hundred reported yesterday.

In a statement last night, UNICEF is supporting the Government of Samoa to respond to the measles outbreak in the country.

UNICEF has deployed health and communication staff in Samoa to boost the government’s immunization campaign and delivered a total of 110,500 doses of measles containing vaccines (100,000 MR and 10,500 MMR) and 30, 000 Vitamin A tablets. In addition, 6 refrigerators and three emergency response trolleys used as immunization service stations are being shipped to Samoa.

UNICEF has also delivered vaccines to Tonga, Fiji and Niue, and has worked with the governments of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Niue, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in conducting their measles immunization campaigns and developing their preparedness plans for an outbreak.

UNICEF and the World Health Organisation jointly prepared a communication toolkit and resources for measles prevention, which was immediately shared with Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, as the first Pacific Island Countries affected by the measles outbreak.

• Measles coverage in Samoa in 2018 was 40% for the first dose and 28% for the second dose.
• UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Health and WHO in Samoa to target children 6 months to 19 years of age and women who are not pregnant between 20-35 years.
• All schools have also been temporarily closed in Samoa and children under 17 years old have been advised by Government not to attend public gatherings to contain the spread of the disease.
• In Tonga, health officials advise that they have previously achieved herd immunity for measles.
• Tonga had a 99% coverage of measles vaccinations in 2018. To further contain the outbreak, the Tongan Government announced the temporary closure of all government primary schools from 14 to 25 November.
• Fiji has a measles coverage of 81% for the first dose in 2018 based on available data.