Measles vaccination

Travelers will be required to be vaccinated according to Samoa’s Director General of Health, Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma.

Infants aged 6 months to 15 months will need to have received a single dose of the measles vaccination before travel.

Children aged 15 months to 24 months must have completed two doses of the vaccination.

A statement issued by Samoa’s Ministry of Health said travelers will be required to complete 14 days post vaccination prior to travel to Samoa.

It follows a confirmed case of the disease in New Zealand.

The person was infected overseas, however, they did not become infectious until after their arrival in New Zealand. The confirmed case is now isolating at home in Auckland and contact tracing is underway.

Edwin Tamasese's defense lawyer has applied for recusal of Justice Alalatoa Rosella Papalii because of her connection to the Minister of Police , who is a cabinet minister.

The Minister was involved in the government's state of emergency imposed last year because of the measles outbreak.

83 people, mostly children, died in the outbreak.

But Justice Papalii said she was surprised with the ground of the application.

Two other judges were recused from hearing the same case due to a conflict of interest relating to some of the prosecution witnesses.

Parliament passed the Infants Amendment Bill 2019 on Wednesday.

Dubbed by prime minister as the 'Law of Compassion', it was rushed through Parliament under urgency.

It comes as the death toll reached 76, most of whom are young children.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the law would allow for stiff penalties for those who did not adhere to the compulsory vaccination law.

School principals stand to be fined up to $US3700 if they allow a child to be registered in school who has not been immunised.

They said this should to happen before travelling internationally, attending major events or community gatherings.

Vaccination provided the best protection against measles and parents should get their children immunised, the agencies said.

In October, Samoa and Tonga both declared measles outbreaks.

Both UNICEF and the WHO said they were continuing to provide resources to Pacific states to respond to the measles threat.