A new immunization campaign targeting young children has been launched, along with a new polio vaccine.
Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, launched the campaign yesterday at the Moto’otua National Hospital.
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He stressed the importance of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine in Samoa, especially for young children.
“In November, 2012, experts from around the world advised us that we must join together with other countries to have an Inactivated Polio Vaccine added as one of the immunizations here in Samoa,” he said.
Two polio vaccines are used throughout the world to provide immunity to the virus that causes poliomyelitis (or polio).
Research showed Samoa desperately needed the vaccine to prevent polio from spreading in the country, even if the cost was prohibitive, the Prime Minister said. “The cost of one injection of the vaccine is $5,247 USD which is $12,000 tala and every year the cost [will] increase,” he said.
“In 2016 the cost will increase up to $21,119 USD; in the year 2017 it will increase to $21,252 USD and in 2018 it will go up to $21,386 USD.
“This shows that the vaccine alone is not cheap and that does not count the cost of the supplies brought into Samoa to conduct training to prevent [polio] from spreading.”
The Prime Minister revealed a billboard at the start of the campaign launch, as well as a branded immunization van, which was designed to show the importance of getting children immunized with the new vaccine.
Youth Commonwealth Games Weightlifting gold medalist, Maeu Nanai Livigisitone, is the immunization flag bearer.
He was presented with $2,000 by the National Health Service of Samoa for getting fully immunized on schedule while he was young.
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