Transcript
UNICEF's Robin Nandy says there is no shortage of vaccines and technology available to prevent measles.
Dr Nandy says he is disappointed by the situation in Samoa.
"We should not be seeing these sorts of outbreaks in 2019 when we've had a very inexpensive, safe and efficacious vaccine for several decades now. Unfortunately because we've not been able to ensure sustained high coverage with measles vaccines, we have immunity gaps within the population."
He says people have forgotten how deadly measles can be.
"And it is a reminder that unless we keep high population immunity levels, these diseases will come back. The deaths in Samoa amplify this point - that measles is a very dangerous disease. Come 2019, it is really disappointing to see measles outbreaks in countries like Samoa, like Fiji. "
UNICEF's representative for the Pacific, Sheldon Yett, says the main challenge for their staff working in Samoa is the increase in hospital admissions.
He says Samoa is a small country and with its limited resources, the measles outbreak is proving overwhelming.
"The situation is huge. The numbers keep changing and that makes it very difficult. Again it's a very emotional situation. We do have children who are unfortunately still getting very sick and still being admitted to hospital. Absolutely, this is a problem. We need to ensure all these children get the curative care and the support that they need."
WHO official Jose Hagan says the recent increase in demand for the vaccine in Fiji shows the government has been effective in making sure the population values immunisation.
But on the other hand, Dr Hagan says, this means the stocks are overwhelmed by demand from people who are not necessarily at risk of developing measles.
"It's a difficult position for the government to be in. To have people demanding the vaccine and to be unable to deliver it to anybody who wants it. When there's an outbreak, this leads to a huge surge in demand. And that's difficult to keep up with even in emergency situations. WHO and UNICEF are working full-time and it takes time to mobilize vaccines."
Dr Nandy warns measles is highly infectious and the recent outbreaks is due to complacency .
"There's complacency on the service provider - the doctors and the nurses who provide vaccines. 'The job is done so we should maybe perhaps turn to other emerging priorities'. the community and the parents of the kids, there is also complacency because if you feel that a disease is no longer threatening to you or your children, they will not prioritize taking their kids for vaccines against diseases that they don't consider a threat anymore."
He says there's a need for a change in attitude.
"To ensure that the kids are vaccinated and don't die from such preventable causes. When you know how to prevent the disease and then you see these outbreaks and you see kids dying, it's a very hard pill to swallow. Very disappointing. The deaths come at a huge prize to the families, to the parents of these kids and to the country at large."
Dr Nandy says it's the responsibility of global agencies like UNICEF and WHO, health providers, communities, parents and governments to ensure high quality, high immunisation coverage.
He says if this is not done the outbreaks could continue for a longer period of time and result in more deaths.
