Media Release: Governnment Press Secretariat, Ministry of the Prime Minister & Cabinet
The correct number of measles vaccine doses confiscated last week by authorities from a Health Clinic is 60 doses and not 6,000, as reported earlier.
Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri made a slip of tongue at a press conference yesterday and was only informed late last night by staff that the vaccination doses seized include 6 viles with ten doses each. All the seized viles have since been destroyed because their safety have been compromised due to storage issues.
He also noted that the Newshub media which reported that the doses were stolen is incorrect. A correction and retraction was quickly published by the outlet last night to that effect saying that “This story has been edited to reflect that the Samoa Government says that the vaccines were taken from the hospital without official authorisation and whether they were stolen is part of the investigation which is on-going.”
Also to set the record straight, no Public Clinic is closed from providing regular services to the public including the Private Clinic under investigation and operated by 2 nurses and a mid-wife, who are former National Health Services employees from the previous administration.
The Private Clinics regular services to the Public are not affected. However they are not allowed to provide measles vaccination to the public until further notice.
