Transcript
UNICEF Pacific Representative Sheldon Yett says public hesitancy is understandable after last year's events but active outreach and community education is underway to try and lift the immunisation rates in Samoa.
He says the Samoan government is very eager to get the MMR vaccinations back up and running as current international measles outbreaks mean the introduction of the disease to the country could be just a plane ride away.
"We were working with our colleagues there to ensure that there was refresher training given to health staff on good immunisation practise, standard safety procedures, effective vaccine management and storage. We are also working with communities to ensure that they understand the need to get their children vaccinated as quickly as possible."
Sheldon Yett says supplies of MMR are ready in Samoa and rigorous checks ensure the vaccines are stored and delivered safely.
Meanwhile, there has been a further delay in the trial of two Samoan nurses charged over the children's deaths after receiving their vaccinations.
Our correspondent Autagavaia Tipi Autagavia said the nurses appeared before the chief justice in Samoa's Supreme Court last week but now their lawyer has now requested more information.
"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."
Autagavaia says everyone feels for the families of the children in light of the delay but it's important key information is available.
The World Health Organisation's Samoa Representative, Rasul Baghirov, says while the investigations into last year's deaths and the nurses' trial has taken some time the Samoan government obviously wants to avoid similar future tragedy.
"The Ministry of Health is looking at the system as well helping put some safety improvements and they were very, very cautious in terms of re-starting MMR because the paramount concern is to make sure that from now on that the system has enough safeguards to prevent this from repeating in the future."
Mr Baghirov says restoring confidence in the immunisation programme remains a hurdle but what needs to happen now is a quick catch up for the group of children who have missed their measles protection over the past nine months.
A vaccinologist at the University of Auckland, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris says measles is an extremely infectious disease and preventative vaccines are completely safe.
She says the Samoan community has likely lost some trust in health professionals after last years events that appear to involve human error, but news of a visit to Samoa by speakers with anti vaccine views is a public health threat.
"Now somebody who really has no expertise in health, or certainly not on vaccines, who makes money out of doing these talking tours, is going to talk with this community who are exceptionally vulnerable. So I think it's predatory."
Dr Petousis-Harris says all care is being taken to ensure the safety and effectiveness of immunisation programmes and with international measles outbreaks currently growing, vaccination is really important to protect children's lives.
