Rt Hon Winston Peters
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs
15 November 2019
PĀNUI PĀPĀHO
MEDIA STATEMENT
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced that at the request of the Samoan Government, New Zealand will be
providing further support to Samoa as it faces a worsening measles outbreak.
“In response to a request from people of Samoa, New Zealand is providing 3000 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines
and 12 nurses to assist in containing a serious and growing measles outbreak,” Mr Peters said.
“Measles is highly contagious, and the outbreak has taken lives in Samoa. It is in everybody’s interests that we work
together to stop its spread.”
The first nurses, who will administer vaccinations, will arrive on Wednesday, with other nurses working on rotation over
the coming weeks.
The vaccines are undergoing final clearance to arrive in Samoa next week.
“New Zealand has already responded to earlier requests from Samoa for medical supplies, and for pharmaceutical
refrigerators which are essential to preserving the efficacy of vaccines,” Mr Peters said.
Supplies to Samoa have included face masks, gowns, hand sanitiser and stretcher beds, and vaccination fridges.
ENDS