NZ donates 6000 doses of vaccine to Samoa in response to pertussis outbreak

To address the recent pertussis outbreak in Samoa, the government of New Zealand has committed to donating 6,000 doses of the Boostrix vaccine. As of 20 January, the Samoan Ministry of Health had reported 363 cases of whooping cough, with 24 confirmed. Of these cases, 184 have been identified in children under five years of age, with 121 of these cases being infants under one year old. The outbreak is centred on Upolu, with a single case on Savai’i. It is noteworthy that Samoa has not had access to the Boostrix vaccine, which offers protection against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. According to the Samoan Ministry of Health, the distribution plan for the vaccine will prioritise health workers, health personnel, and pregnant women. Infants represent the demographic with the highest risk during the first months of life; it is, therefore, crucial that vaccination takes place in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, providing them with the necessary protection until they can receive their immunisations.