Samoa has received a new vaccination van. Photo: Samoa Ministry of Health Facebook
UNICEF and Australia are working with Samoa to improve access to vaccinations, and a new vaccine delivery vehicle has been handed over.
Australia's High Commissioner to Samoa Will Robinson said the vehicle will support Samoa to maintain its goal of 90 percent coverage for routine immunisation.
Coverage of the first measles vaccination dose has reached 91 percent for the first time in the last five years, following the 2019 outbreak, with around 64 percent coverage of the recommended two doses.
Samoa's Ministry of Health said receiving the country's first vaccine delivery vehicle means cost-effective utilisation and less wastage of resources, including time, for the healthcare workers in Samoa.
Previously, a smaller vehicle was used to transport vaccines from the airport to the National Vaccine Centre, before transporting to healthcare facilities - meaning more trips to ensure that the potency and efficiency of the vaccines could be maintained, as well as to cater for the quantity.
UNICEF Pacific's chief of Samoa field office, Khin Moe Aye, said most of the health issues faced, especially by children in Samoa and the Pacific, are preventable.
"However, preventing them requires an effective primary healthcare system well-supported by sound resources."
Samoa’s Minister of Health, Valasi Luapitofanua To'ogamaga Tafito Selesele. Photo: Samoa Ministry of Health Facebook
Samoa's Minister of Health, Valasi Luapitofanua To'ogamaga Tafito Selesele, said the ministry is "immensely grateful to the Australian fovernment for their timely support and also to UNICEF for their able technical guidance and support for strengthening our health system to get equipped to provide quality services in a cost-effective way".
"Though this vehicle will have priority for vaccines, it may be considered to accommodate the pharmaceutical supplies for distribution to the health facilities across the country to improve the cost efficiency."
The Expanded Programme on Immunisation team of Samoa's Ministry of Health is hopeful to cover the missed children in the remaining months of this year to achieve good vaccination coverage for the year.
