Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete [Source: Fijian Government]

Measles has not had a resurgence in Fiji as it has in some countries.

This has been confirmed by the Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete while responding to a question by the Assistant Minister for i-Taukei Adi Selai Adimaitoga on the current state of measles in Fiji as there is a resurgence of the deadly disease in some countries around the world.

Dr. Waqainabete says Fiji has been very fortunate that even though there is a resurgence globally and there have been deaths in some first world countries, this has not been the case here.

“One of the reasons why there is no resurgence of measles in Fiji is because of the fact that we have a measles immunization that happens at 9 months this began in 1982 and also we had a measles supplementary immunization that is administered to our children who are beyond the age of 10 so in essence this gives us more than 96 to 97 percent immunity within our population and this is called herd immunity.”

Dr. Waqainabete clarified that in first world countries, measles is making a resurgence in clusters in areas where parents have chosen not to have measles vaccination.

The Health Minister stressed that the Ministry’s collective efforts in terms of immunization and the fact that they encourage children to be immunized has given Fiji herd immunity against measles.