People need to take responsibility and get vaccinated for measles - AG

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they have a robust system for measles vaccination and new stock of vaccination has arrived into the country.

While speaking in ABC’s Q&A which was held at USP’s Japan-Pacific ICT Centre last night, Sayed-Khaiyum says about 100,000 people have already been vaccinated.

There are now 15 confirmed cases of measles in Fiji with the latest confirmed case being a 38-year-old from Nasilai Village in Nakelo in the Rewa Subdivision.

The Health Ministry says the Rewa Subdivisional Outbreak Response Team is rapidly responding to notification of this latest case which includes isolation of the case, quarantine and vaccination of contacts and others at risk.

11 of the confirmed measles cases are from the Serua/Namosi Subdivision specifically in Wailali, Wainadoi, Navunikabi and Makosoi in Deuba. 

2 confirmed measles cases are from Samabula and Vatuwaqa in the Suva subdivision while 2 other cases are from Koronivia and Nasilai Village in Nakelo in the Rewa subdivision. 

Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Alex Hawke says they have an Australian team in Samoa.

He says more than 50 people have died in Samoa and most are children.

Hawke says vaccination rates for measles are too low in the Pacific and they are making vaccines available for the Pacific.

This is the first time ABC’s Q&A was held in the Pacific.