The year was 1798, the biggest threat to Europe in those days, specifically England, was smallpox. The disease had killed more than 10 per cent of the nation’s population.

It was in the same year, a physician and scientist by the name of Edward Jenner discovered what we now call immunization.

This man’s discovery has made him the one person that has saved more lives than any one man. He discovered a vaccine for smallpox and slowly this concept has been developed to fight diseases. If it was not for this discovery, diseases like the common flu would wipe out a country.

Three years ago when Samoa faced its measles epidemic, the lives that were lost were mostly children and these losses could have been prevented, if children had been immunized or vaccinated.

Our neighbours American Samoa have confirmed one case of measles and our borders remain open because as true Christians we love our neighbours. This means that we could see measles cases in the country.

And that is why the plea by the Ministry of Health for parents to get their children vaccinated. It is an urgent appeal to parents and guardians of children, especially those under five years of age, to have their children vaccinated for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.

Confirming a measles outbreak in neighbouring American Samoa, which is being tackled by the U.S. territory's health sector, the M.O.H. appealed to the public to not brush aside the matter and to take it seriously.

Children need two doses of the M.M.R. vaccine to be considered protected and should be immunised at the age of nine months and 15 months.

So very true. This matter has to be taken seriously.

According to the World Health Organisation, immunization is a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives every year. Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defences to build protection. When you get a vaccine, your immune system responds.

We now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives. Immunization currently prevents 3.5-5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles.

Immunization is a key component of primary health care and an indisputable human right. It’s also one of the best health investments money can buy. Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. They underpin global health security and will be a vital tool in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.

Yet despite tremendous progress, vaccination coverage has plateaued in recent years and dropped since 2020.

Vaccination and immunization is a human right and as the Government of the day, they have the responsibility to ensure that all Samoan children are vaccinated. If the Government is not giving enough funds for this work, they should be reminded of what happened three years ago.

Had all children in Samoa been vaccinated against measles, we would not have lost those innocent lives. Parents need to wake up and see that by not getting children immunized, we are making them susceptible to diseases which could become life threatening.

When a child is born in Samoa, he or she is provided with a medical card. This card has vaccination dates on them and these vaccines are made available at all health facilities. So when a child misses his or her vaccines, whose fault is this?

The Ministry of Health is right to ask all Samoans to take this matter very seriously. Remember that three years ago, measles spread like wildfire because of the low vaccination rates.

We have the power to fight this disease and the power to protect ourselves and our children. We should take heed of these warnings and advisories.

We live in a day and age where everyone all over the world has experienced the global pandemic and what it can do to societies and communities. The pandemic had crippled nations economically. We should very well know that prevention is better than cure.

Immunization is one of the more important medical interventions. Over the course of history, it has helped keep millions of us protected against some of the most devastating and deadly diseases ever to befall mankind.

In fact, it has been so effective that some diseases that were once feared are now extinct or easily manageable. Yet, in the recent past many unheard-of diseases are emerging too. This makes immunization even more crucial.

Immunization has helped rid the world of some very serious debilitating diseases. Polio, for example, has now been eradicated from the country, meaning current and future generations will never have to suffer from it.

Other diseases, like rubella can also pass from a mother to their unborn child if the mother is not vaccinated. By vaccinating people today, we are able to prevent the spread of serious diseases to future generations and ensure they grow up healthier.