Unvaccinated arriving passengers to pay $250 or be sent back

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 15 SEPTEMBER 2022: The Ministry of Health is giving all unvaccinated passengers from abroad to pay ST$250 on arrival or be sent back on the same flight.

This was confirmed by the Minister for Health, Valasi Togamaga Tafito Selesele saying he supported the stance taken.

For two years, a lot of countries had been campaigning, advising and urging their people to get two COVID-19 injections, however it was noted recently that some of the passengers arriving on flights from Australia and New Zealand had not been vaccinated.

“They either have not had any injection or completed two, no vaccination card and no records at all, and when they are questioned, they tend to make trouble and challenge the health workers at the airport,” said Valasi.

The ministry then gave the unvaccinated passengers an option to either pay ST$250 or be sent back on the same flight they came in.

‘They are lucky it’s only $250 when it should be $1000,” said Valasi.

The Minster is unhappy that some of the unvaccinated passengers who challenged the health workers were church ministers.

He said every country took precautions and had policies in place for the safety of their people, “and returning to normal life after lockdowns and restrictions does not mean we should let our guards down.”

US citizens sent back
Four passengers from the United States who came through American Samoa in the weekend were sent back a few hours after landing at Faleolo International Airport.

According to Valasi, they refused to comply with the health team who then gave them back their papers and sent them back to the plane.

All of them had their injection two days prior to travelling, but according to the international standard procedure, they should have done it 14 days before departure.

“They can travel between US territories with that two day injection, but outside of that safe zone, they have to comply with the international law of 14 days,” said Valasi.

The four passengers travelled from Los Angeles to Hawaii, American Samoa to Samoa.

“Samoa is a small country that relies on the law for the safety and security of her people, and if anyone refuses to comply with our laws, we send them back to where they came from,” said the Minister.