Samoa's health ministry has confirmed that the deaths of two babies last year were caused by nurses mixing the wrong liquid with their MMR vaccines.
The two nurses implicated in the tragedy, Luse Emo Tauvale and Leutogi Te'o, pled guilty to manslaughter last week and will be sentenced later this month.
The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, said every vial of the vaccine should be mixed with one vial of dilutant, but the vaccine was mixed with something else.
He said he's worried many parents have stopped taking their children to get any vaccines at all.
RNZI correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says it won't be easy convincing parents the vaccine is safe.
"They are saying they do not want to take their children to the immunisation program. Because of what they think is going to happen. They don't want their children to be in the same situation as the two babies who died from the MMR," Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia said.
New Zealand nurses to carry out vaccination training in Samoa
Eight New Zealand nurses will go to Samoa this month to re-train all vaccinating nurses, after last year's tragic mistake that caused the death of two infants.
Elizabeth Powell, from Counties Manukau Health, said the Samoa Health Ministry has asked the New Zealand nurses to visit.
She said they all speak Samoan and will visit district hospitals for on-the-job training.
"How you have to you know check the vials with two people make sure it is the right date the right dose the right drug. There is a whole procedure around that. So this is about reconfirming with these nurses that while they are registered nurses that they are fit to practice that they are really, really competent," Elizabeth Powell said.