THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services today received 200,000 measles vaccines, funded by the Australian Government to boost the Fijian Government’s measles response.
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete thanked the Australian Government for their assistance saying “these vaccines will enable us to continue our mass immunisation campaign, targeting those most at risk of measles infection.”
Meanwhile Australia’s Acting High Commissioner to Fiji, Anna Dorney said Australia is proud to assist the Fijian Government’s response to this measles outbreak.
“The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has been working tirelessly to ensure that this outbreak is contained. We are pleased to support their critical work to protect Fijians against measles,” Ms Dorney said.
While the main focus of the mass immunisation campaign has been on the Central Division, where all cases are currently from: the latest supply of measles vaccines will be distributed to the rest of Fiji for the next phase of mass immunisation, which will continue to target people most at risk of catching and spreading the disease.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services will announce details, including start dates, of the roll out of the campaign to the rest of Fiji shortly.
The Fijian Government has also received assistance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Government of New Zealand.
