Transcript
It's still unclear as to what actually happened in Savaii's Safotu hospital last Friday.
One mother cried on local TV saying she'd heard about another baby dying earlier that day, so she had not wanted her son Lameko Si'u being vaccinated.
But staff proceeded anyway.
That first death was of a little girl, Lannacallystah Samuelu.
In the wake of the deaths, many samoans - including Samoa's Prime Minister - want answers.
Samoa's Director General of Health says he still fully backs public health immunisation programmes.
But for now, Leausa Dr Take Naseri says immunisations using the MMR vaccine that covers mumps, measles and rubella have been stopped, and all batches have been recalled.
"Vaccinations is like a mainstay of prevention here in Samoa for most infectious diseases. And that confidence has been compromised. We want to be as transparent as much as possible to our public so we can regain public confidence in our system in the service we provide for our country."
Several doses remaining of the fatal vial administered to the two infants are now being analysed by WHO experts and an autopsy of the bodies is underway.
Leausa promises the public they will fully investigate the deaths, no matter how long it takes.
"We want to have a thorough investigation so I don't want to rush as we really have to make sure verything is looked at not only to get to the cause of this but also to overhaul the whole system and make it safe and do more training on any complications or adverse effects."
One vaccinations expert in New Zealand says she doesn't want parents to stop vaccinating their children after the MMR recall in Samoa.
New Zealand's Immunisation Advisory Centre's vaccinologist, Helen Petousis-Harris says the vaccine has an excellent safety record.
"It's really disappointing when these things happen as they can initiate a panic as vaccines are incredibly safe and we have lots and lots of great data and this has just never happened and so it is important to know what did happen so it never ever happens again."
Back in Samoa, the capabilities and skills of public health staff have come under scrutiny.
Staff who had dealt with the families of the deceased that day have also been relocated for their own safety.
Our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia says there are questions about whether staff followed proper procedures for administering and properly storing the vaccine, as well as consent.
"There are forms for consents of parents to be signed before the vaccination and it is very difficult now to speculate whether the two babies mothers consented."
Another New Zealand medical specialist at Middlemore Hospital who has worked in Samoa, David Galler, says the investigation into the infants' deaths will be thorough, because the ramifications are serious.
"I think all our hearts go out to those families but also to the community in Samoa who have real fear now about the risks of vaccinations that will stir the fires around anti-vaccination campaigns."
The two families live near the hospital and have filed a complaint with police, who are also investigating.
Despite the shock and grief the two families have also had to organise funerals for two infants whose lives were taken too soon.
