AFP, APIASamoa has passed a law to make childhood vaccinations compulsory as the Pacific nation continues efforts to contain a devastating measles outbreak that by yesterday had killed 77 people, mostly infants. Village councils and schools are expected to have policies in place to ensure all children are vaccinated. Organizations such as the WHO and the UN Children’s Fund have blamed the low immunization rates that left Samoa vulnerable to measles on anti-vaccination misinformation spread online by overseas-based activists. Other measles outbreaks in Pacific nations that had higher vaccination rates have been more easily contained and not resulted in any deaths. Infants are the most vulnerable to measles, which typically causes a rash and fever, but can also lead to brain damage and death.
