8 Oct 2003

Mass rubella vaccinations in Samoa hopefully from next week in Samoa

4:25 pm on 8 October 2003

The Chief executive officer for Samoa's Ministry of Health says the vaccinations against rubella could begin as early as next week.

Dr Eti Enosa says the mass vaccination programme will start with young people aged between 5 and 18, with some receiving free vaccinations.

Dr Enosa says funding of over 185-thousand US dollars has already been secured for the vaccines through various agencies.

"We have put in our request for vaccine and AusAID have come on board and they say, well, we can buy the vaccines for rubella for you for this mass campaign."

Dr Enosa says two children have died from the Rubella outbreak, not three as reported earlier.

He says the third child died from Meningitis.