Dr Waqainabete says another 35,000 vaccines arrived in the country this morning with 14,000 already distributed and used.

Ninety thousand Fijians have been vaccinated for measles in the last week.

With seven confirmed cases of measles from the Serua/Namosi Subdivision – Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says their ultimate aim is to ensure that no Fijian dies from the disease.

Dr Waqainabete says another 35,000 vaccines arrived in the country this morning with 14,000 already distributed and used.

“For all the seven so far, none of them have exhibited very serious signs or symptoms which would require admission at CWM Hospital because Serua/Namosi goes to CWM or even intensive care. In other places around the world that has happened.”

He says the Serua/Namosi Outbreak response team has implemented response measures – including isolation of the cases, quarantine, and vaccination of contacts.

“The Public Health Act of 1932 allows us to enforce quarantine so that’s what’s been done – quarantine that’s under the law. The reason really is to try and protect other Fijians from getting the disease. Whatever the health protection officers will tell them – so what are the levels of quarantine. So if they say you cannot go then you cannot go that’s it.”

Dr Waqainabete is also urging the public to be patient and allow high-risk groups to be vaccinated first.

“There are frustrations, I have seen people have been frustrated when they turn up to the health centres and they’re told that they might have to wait in the queue. Or might have been told that the vaccinations that have been brought to that health centre has run out and they are told to come back the next day.”

The Ministry says the latest confirmed cases are a seven and three-month-old from Wainadoi and a 19-year-old from Navunikabi in Namosi.

There are two more suspected cases in Navunikabi.

The 7-month-old and 3-month-old babies are currently admitted under isolation at the Navua hospital.