Health

Ministry works to keep measles cases low

November 22, 2019 5:05 pm

Nadi Airport staff are being vaccinated for measles. [Source: Health Ministry]

Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says they’re working on keeping the number of measles cases as low as possible.

With nine confirmed cases in the Serua/Namosi Subdivision, Dr Waqainabete says this is something that we will have to face as a nation for the next three to six months.

He says their ultimate aim is to ensure no Fijian dies from the disease.

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“It’s a difficult task but we can all work together to achieve this. As the Ministry of Health, we’ve made our plans and we’ve been talking about this since May – the global trend around measles because we know at some stage we will be tested and we are now being tested.”


Nadi Airport staff are being vaccinated for measles. [Source: Health Ministry]

Dr Waqainabete says Fijians need to understand that measles is a deadly airborne disease that children are at high risk of contracting.

He says medical staff are carrying out appropriate measures in high-risk areas.

“We know as the Ministry of Health, we got a tough three or four months ahead of us and we also know that we have to relook at some of the things we’re doing. There are many who would be wishing to take some time off and those are some of the things that we’ll have to look at. We also know there will be long hours and we have to make sure we provide the appropriate remuneration for those who had long hours. Maybe some people have made plans for the Christmas Holiday and that might have to change. But that’s the job we have to do.”

Dr Waqainabete says the Ministry has administered more than 110,000 vaccinations to date.

The next batch of 200,000 doses of the vaccine will arrive in the country by early next week.