SUVA, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Health teams in Fiji are reaching out to all rural communities, during the mass measles vaccination campaign, which has so far cost more than two million Fijian dollars (around 900,000 U.S. dollars).
There are now 21 confirmed cases of measles in Fiji, and Health Minister, Ifereimi Waqainabete, said today (Monday), a team from the Ministry of Health will travel to Lomaiviti and Lau Groups this week, to carry out vaccination for target groups.
The Lomaiviti archipelago consists of seven main islands and has a population of 16,461 people, while the Lau Group of islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean has a population of 10,683 people.
Waqainabete said, the Fiji Navy will be supporting them in carrying out the campaign as they are working hard to finish all vaccinations before Christmas, to be able to lift all restrictions before New Year’s Eve.
He said over 200,000 people have been vaccinated against measles since the outbreak was declared. The vaccination campaign in Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island starts Tuesday (tomorrow).
The national campaign will continue to target people who are most at risk of being infected and spreading the disease.
In the meantime, Samoa measles outbreak has not slowed down, prompting the government to extend a state of emergency on Saturday to Dec 29.
Over 5,100 measles cases have been reported since the outbreak and more than two percent of Samoa’s population has been infected, with 72 measles-related deaths recorded, mainly among children.– NNN-AGENCIES