|
Why does the measles outbreak come after vaccination?
the vaccines were introduced weeks before and THEN there was a "state of emergency"? Vaccines delivered Oct 1 and then measles eruption Nov 15th? Then in Fiji vaccines arrived Oct 1 and measles out break declared Nov 7th.
|
The first outbreak of measles in Samoa.
EPIDEMIC MEASLES AT SAMOA. BY SAMUl'EL 11. 1)AVIES, L.R.C.P.,L.R.C.S.EDIN., L.F.P'.S.GLAsG., Savaii, Samijoa, S. Pacific. UNTIL a few months ago measles had not entered this group. It was conveyed to Tonga, 500miles south of us, by the New Zealand steamer Upulu in June last, and from accounts we have received it nearly decimated that group. The same steamer brought the contagium to our group nearly three months afterwards. Here, as in Tonga, the epidemic was at first mild. Comparatively few died in Samoa during the period of the fever and rash. The sequele and complications have caused the mortality. I have not been able to obtain accurate statistics of the deaths from this recent epidemic throughout Samoa, as the ten inhabited islands of this tropical and volcanic group lie between five parallels of longitude, or, with the intervening straits, cover nearly 270 miles; but, judging from the accurate returns obtained here, including a fifth of Samoa, and also from reports obtained from missionaries and others, no fewer than 1,000 of the entire population of 34,500 died from measles up to the end of December, 1893, and nearly half of these adults. Since then there have probably been a few hundreds more. The epidemic was not malignant. Our mortality has arisen principally from gastritis, enteritis, diarrhoea, and dysentery. A few died from suppressed measles. The craving the natives manifest for raw fish, unripe or over-ripe fruit, and especially half-cooked fresh pork, became morbid during the period of convalescence. Many, lest they should be told to avoid these, abstained from procuring foreign medicine. Nine-tenths of the deaths could have been prevented by care in diet. The worst cases of diarrhoea and dysentery brought to me yielded to treatment. Cases under one's own personal supervision, and where instructions were followed, recovered. With the commonstrumous diathesis it has excited no surprise to see so many adults as well as children suffering from enlarged suppurating glands in cervical and submaxillary regions, and in groin, etc.; not a few had parotid abscess with suppuration. Numerous abortions and cases of premature labour occurred, but none died with ordinary treatment. Single and multiple abscesses are an every-day occurrence here, but these have multiplied nearly tenfold since the advent of measles. Before the rash had disappeared, a large number of adults passed intestinal worms by the mouth. Now that two months have elapsed since the last cases of fever and rash, a mild but persistent form of remittent fever is prevailing. This, with glandular and respiratory affections, are the most common ailments at this season. In the mission dispensary I am daily seeing cases of sickness the starting point of which was measles. The two epidemics of influenza at the end of 1891 and January, 1893, increased the tendency of the Samoans to chest affections. Measles will be found to have still further intensified their susceptibility to respiratory diseases; and the frequent deaths, as well as the many debilitated natives one daily meets with, give evidence that we have not yet reached the end of the measles epidemic - an epidemic which will long be remembered, as not one of the entire population seems to have escaped.
|
4 Children Reportedly Dead After Measles Rubella Vaccination In Gujara
"A Central investigating team has, however, ruled out any linkage between these deaths and the vaccination process.
Deputy Commissioner, immunization, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, said: "As per preliminary investigation, we don't see the cause of death to be vaccination. Two of the children showed signs of acute abdominal problems, one child of viral encephalitis and one of some kind of drug reaction. A definite cause of death would be known after the post-mortem reports."
How can they be sure before the reports are published?
|
statement on the deaths of children in Samoa after MMR vaccine
11 July 2018 News release Suva, Fiji
UNICEF and the WHO are deeply concerned about the deaths of two children in Samoa last week after they received a routine Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The deaths of these two children is a tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and the people of Samoa.
|
29 March 2019 News release Manila, Philippines
Immunization gaps threaten gains on measles
"The Region had historically low levels of measles cases and no major outbreaks in 2017. This landmark decline was achieved through steady efforts to vaccinate all children against measles, but last year, measles cases in the Region increased by 250%, and more than two-thirds of cases were in the Philippines. So far this year, the Philippines has reported 23 000 cases with 333 deaths — already more than all of last year. Tragically, most of the cases were among children under 5 years old."
Translation: After large scale vaccination, measles cases rose instead of going away.
"Nine countries and areas in the Region have been verified as having eliminated measles: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Hong Kong SAR (China), Japan, Macao SAR (China), New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Singapore. Elimination means there has been no prolonged local transmission of the virus for at least three years."
|
Why measles is claiming lives in Samoa, but not in New Zealand
While the current measles outbreak in Samoa has already claimed 62 lives, no-one has died from measles in New Zealand this year – but that has nothing to do with the disease itself.
New Zealand Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner said there is no difference between measles in Samoa and the disease in New Zealand.
"The disease is exactly the same, but it is not unusual to see more people die of measles in low-income countries than other countries."
Children in low-income countries are often malnourished and access to primary healthcare is more limited. she said. Moreover, hospitals in Samoa are not nearly as well resourced as hospitals in New Zealand.
Turner said no-one in New Zealand has died from measles this year, although two pregnant women lost their unborn babies after they became ill.
|
Child dies in Cuba after receiving vaccine made in India. It’s not the first time
The Cuban government has confirmed that five children suffered severe reactions and one of them — a 1-year-old girl — died after receiving a vaccine. The serum came from the same company in India that produced vaccines linked to the deaths of three other children following inoculations administered in Cuba in 2002.
|
14 October 2019 Media release Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands Measles Campaign Under Way
An intensive measles and rubella vaccination campaign was launched in Solomon Islands on October 14, with the aim of immunising 90,000 children in communities across the country.
|
|
Tonga said it would re-vaccinate up to 20,000 people after dozens of people with measles were found to have received both vaccine doses.
Ministry of Health chief executive Dr Siale 'Akauola said it's assumed the vaccines were either poor quality or were incorrectly stored.*
He said the Health Ministry is investigating alongside the World Health Organisation and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the latest available data, there were 440 confirmed or suspected measles cases in Tonga.
Dr 'Akauola said Tonga was confident it had 99 percent immunisation coverage for measles until it discovered people sickened with the disease who had already received both doses of the vaccine.
* No.
- What strain of the measles do they have? D4 and D8 are circulating, but if they have Type A, then it came from the vaccine not somebody else.
- The way to test of the vaccine "took" is to measure titre. Not to assume or guess.
- If there is a strong viral challenge the vaccine will not work. See Levy 1984
|
MEASLES OUTBREAK IN THE PACIFIC - SITUATION REPORT No 1 - 22 November 2019
22 November 2019
Global measles resurgence
Since 2017, a global resurgence of measles cases has been affecting all regions of the world. In global
immunization surveys, coverage for the second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) was 69%,
with significant variability between regions. In the Asia Pacific region, outbreaks and clusters of measles
cases are being reported from countries where measles has been eliminated, including Australia, Japan,
New Zealand, Republic of Korea, as well as higher incidence in endemic countries such as Lao PDR,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.
As of 22 November 2019, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have reported measles cases, while American Samoa
has reported two cases of measles acquired in Samoa. The outbreaks in Samoa and Tonga are caused by
the D8 strain (genotype) of measles virus. Measles vaccine coverage varies in Pacific island countries and
areas, ranging from 31% in Samoa to 99% in the Cook Islands, Nauru and Niue.
Country Situation Overview
SAMOA
● The Samoa Ministry of Health declared a measles outbreak on 16 October. There is widespread
community transmission, with the outbreak strain the same as that causing the current
outbreak in New Zealand.
● Samoa activated its Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) which meets daily for health
sector coordination.
● The Government of Samoa declared a state of emergency on 15 November because of the
continuing outbreak. Under the new Orders of the State of Emergency the Government has
made vaccination mandatory for priority groups.
● On 20 November commenced the roll out of a national measles vaccination campaign which is
providing free vaccines to priority groups. Groups prioritised for vaccination are females and
males aged 6 months to 19 years; and females of childbearing age, aged from 20 to 35 years.
● Under the national orders, other restrictions have been implemented including the restriction
on inter-island travel for children under 19 years of age; all schools are temporarily closed; and
children under 18 are barred from attending public gatherings or going to any medical facility,
unless they require medical attention. Unimmunized pregnant women are further restricted
from attending their place of employment (public and private sector).
● As of 22 November 2019, the Disease Surveillance Team from the Ministry of Health recorded a
total of 1,644 measles cases. To date, 20 measles related deaths have been recorded, with
one fatality in the past 24 hours. Approximately 89% of measles cases are in Upolu, and
notably concentrated in the Vaimauga West and Faleata West. 92% of current measles
1
admissions are children, including 11 critically ill children in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). As
of 22 November the total number of measles admissions recorded for the outbreak was 628.
● UNICEF has delivered to Samoa a total of 105,500 doses of MCV since 1 October. In addition,
UNICEF has also delivered 30,000 Vitamin A tablets, and six 42 sqm tents. Six units of ice-lined
refrigerators (ILRs) and three emergency trolleys are in the pipeline. UNICEF has deployed three
health and nutrition specialists, one communication for development specialist and one logistics
specialist to provide technical assistance to government and augment the Samoa-based
immunisation specialist and child protection officer.
● WHO’s support to Samoa has been coordinated through the Country Office for Samoa, American
Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. WHO has been supporting surveillance and
epidemiology, the immunisation program and risk communication and has deployed two public
health experts/epidemiologists, vaccinologist and a risk communication officer to date, and has
established a surge pipeline for additional human resources, in addition to the ongoing technical
collaboration between the Ministry of Health of Samoa and WHO under the Samoa Country
Cooperation Strategy.
|
Infant deaths in Samoa a tragic outcome from error preparing MMR vaccine
August 3rd 2019 - Report on RNZ website: The two nurses, who pleaded guilty to negligence causing the manslaughter of two infants, have been sentenced to five years in prison.
The Samoa Observer published a detailed account of the sentencing hearing, where it was confirmed that one of the nurses mixed the MMR vaccine powder with expired muscle relaxant anaesthetic instead of water for injection supplied in a vial with the vaccine.
|
Thousands of measles vaccines destroyed in Samoa
RADIO NZ
NOVEMBER 26, 2019 10:01 AM
Six thousand vaccines had to be destroyed because they were incorrectly stored.
Samoa’s Director General Of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, said an investigation had been launched.
“We have to stop it for safety reasons and the fact that we have to do away with about 6000 doses because they were not stored in that specialised fridge where it has to maintain the temperature. So we have to maintain that standard.”
|
|
|
|
36752 (2019). Dr Shane Reti to the Health (Associate Minister - Julie Anne Genter)
36752 (2019). Dr Shane Reti to the Health (Associate Minister - Julie Anne Genter) (29 Oct 2019): In response to reply 35069 (2019) how many measles PCR tests undertaken by each DHB tested positive for measles, if any, listed by DHB as number of tests and as a percentage of PCR tests for that DHB?
Hon Julie Anne Genter (Health (Associate Minister - Julie Anne Genter)) replied: I refer the Member to the attached table for the information available. For some of the DHBs that have tests done by the National Measles and Rubella Laboratory (Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, South Canterbury, Taranaki and West Coast DHBs), results will take some time to produce. I will pass this information onto the Member when the information is received by the Ministry of Health.
Please note that all PCR measles tests for the northern Region (the area covered by the Waitematā, Auckland an Counties Manukau and Northland DHBs) are managed by a single provider, LabPlus, rather than by each individual DHB. Therefore, data for the northern region is collated.
View attachment [PDF 108k]
WPQ 36752: measles PCR tests undertaken by each DHB tested positive for measles, if any, listed
by DHB as number of tests and as a percentage of PCR tests for that DHB
| Number of PCR tests done |
Percentage of PCR positive for wild strain measles |
| Auckland, Counties Manukau, Northland and Waitematā |
6385 | 23.5% |
| Bay of Plenty | 259 | 13.1% |
| Capital & Coast* | 48 | 16.7% |
| Hutt Valley* | 10 | 0% |
| Lakes** | 175 | 10.3% |
| MidCentral | 134 | 8.2% |
| Nelson-Malborough | 41 | 2.5% |
| Southern | 181 | 36.5% |
| Tairāwhiti | 25 | 4% |
| Waikato | 748 | 13% |
| Wairarapa* | 6 | 0% |
| Whanganui | 34 | 0% | |
*data is from June – October.
**data is from February – October
So, from 75% to 100% of the measles cases in New Zealand are from the vaccine itself.
|
More deaths after the last round of vaccines.
December 20, 2019
2 year old Siliva Losefa passed one day after receiving his vaccine from a mobile unit. His parents say he was unwell at the time. So the question remains why was he given the vaccine if he was already sick? And if he was sick, why didn’t the mobile unit take him to hospital or treat him instead of just vaccinating him?
Siliva is one of 4 children who have died in the last 3 days.
I only have this information due to the fact that an international doctor has requested a post-mortem. The family do not want this and are happy to take the cause of death as measles, just like the previous 71 people who were never tested to why they actually died. - Michael Simms
|
Articles by James Meehan MD about the 2019 Measles outbreak in Samoa.
|
ORDERS OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE DOOR TO DOOR MASS VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
In response to the current measles outbreak, the Government of Samoa will be undertaking a ‘Door to door Mass Vaccination Campaign’ on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th December, 2019 from 7am to 5pm throughout the whole country.
|
Samoa measles crisis: Vaccines taken, destroyed in midst of outbreak
Correction: This article was amended on November 26 because the Director-General of Health incorrectly told media 6000 vaccines were taken. The correct figure is 60 doses.
|
UNICEF delivers over 260,000 vaccines and medical supplies to fight measles outbreaks in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga
The Government of Samoa officially declared a state of emergency on 15 November 2019. UNICEF has delivered a total of 115,500 doses of measles vaccines to Samoa since 1 October, including the required diluent, syringes and safety boxes, as well as sufficient supplies of Vitamin A.
The national Measles Vaccination Campaign began on 20 November 2019 with mobile outreach vaccination sites and teams, and special vaccine booths. Since the launch of the campaign, the Ministry of Health has successfully vaccinated more than 33,500 individuals in both Upolu and Savai’i.
UNICEF has delivered six 42 sqm tents, which will be used as vaccination sites or isolation wards for patients with measles. Six specially designed refrigerators and three emergency trolleys will also be provided to the Ministry of Health, to ensure the cold chain is maintained and vaccines are effective when given at vaccination sites.
Notice there was no measles on Samoa before the vaccinations. In fact there had not been a case since 2017 according to the W.H.O.
|
inquiry into vaccine deaths
"Christine and Karl Laulu, originally from Samoa, are still grieving the loss of their children - son Jamie Ray and daughter Alana-Rae - who died within days of receiving a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination in the island nation."
The Laulu children died before news broke of two 1-year-old babies who died shortly after getting an MMR vaccination at Safotu District Hospital, on the island of Savaii, in early July.
A Commission of Inquiry into the deaths of two other children - Lannacallystah Samuelu and Lameko Si'u - is taking place in Samoa this week.
Public submissions and those from a number of organisations, including Samoa's Ministry of Health and the Samoa Registered Nurses Association, are being accepted.
But the Laulu family has had their request to appear before the Commission knocked back by Samoan authorities.
Woodroffe said the fact the inquiry would not include the deaths of the Laulu siblings
|
Vaccine derived virus - how vaccines cause disease
A FAQ that purports to rebut the idea that it's possible for vaccines to spread diseases tells you exactly how vaccines spread disease.
|
World Health Organization statistics on rates of measles infections on Samoa.
|
|
|
