3 Jun 2010

Typhoid vaccinations underway in Fiji's Navosa province

5:56 pm on 3 June 2010

Village leaders have been vaccinated against typhoid fever as health authorities in Fiji try to limit the spread of the disease.

Fiji declared a public health emergency last week after three deaths and 100 suspected cases in Navosa Province.

"A health ministry spokesman, Iliesa Tora, says a public meeting with leaders in the village of Keyasi (key a Sea) was held on Tuesday."

The meeting went very well. As far as the vaccination programme was concerned there were just queries on whether there would be any, you know, any side effects. And we had people from the World Health Organisation who were there to help explain to those who attended the meeting that the vaccination programme is for their best interests.

Medical teams started the vaccination programme in three villages in the interior of Navosa yesterday and aim to protect five and a half thousand people with injection.