Transcript
AUTAGAVAIA TIPI AUTAGAVAIA: Remember this case from last year was scheduled to be heard in a trial in January this year. However, the prosecution is still awaiting the outcome or the report of the research on the MMR vaccines in New Zealand and Australia. So now last week the matter was called before the Chief Justice and the two defendants, the two nurses, defendants appeared. And now their lawyer has confirmed that he will continue to represent the two defendants in the trial. So now the defence lawyer has been served with all the trial documents. But the defence lawyer is now asking the prosecution for the report on the post mortem carried out here and also another research of this outcome of the post mortem overseas. Because he hasn't received that report from the police. So now it's been given one week for that to be served. And the trial is now set to begin in June.
JENNY MEYER: There's been a series of delays haven't there? It must be very frustrating for the families and for the community there? What's the mood about the whole thing? I gues there's been measles outbreaks here in New Zealand and it is a concern to try and protect these children from outbreaks?
ATA: Yes. I think we all understand the frustration of the families involved, especially the families of the two deceased babies. But you know the way things go, especially because it involves the MMR vaccine, they have to go through all the channels to make sure the outcome of the post mortem is in line with the police evidence before the trial begins. So now we have the trial set for June and everyone is now waiting for the beginning of that trial.
JM: Can you confirm whether the vaccinations have re-started? I know they were suspended for several months there?
ATA: There's a lot of very contradictory reports on the re-start of the MMR vaccine here. Because I understand, I sent a story about two months ago on the resumption of the MMR based on new criteria where a doctor is always present when the nurse is giving out the MMR vaccine. But some other reports are saying that it's going to start very soon, either this month or next month. I don't know. And still the Ministry of Health, they are not able to open up their doors for questions and answers from the media on the issue.
JM: Yeah, clearly, it's quite a sensitive matter. Meanwhile have there been any cases of measles in Samoa that you know of?
ATA: So far there are no cases of measles. That's the last time I've questioned the officials of the Ministry of Health, there are no cases of measles.
