FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS / FESILI MASANI

DISEASE INFORMATION

O le misela o se vairasi e pipisi tele. E pipisi mai le tagata ua a’afia ma feavea’I e le ea pe a tale, mafatua pe manava fo’i.

Measles is a serious disease caused by a very infectious  virus. The virus spreads easily from person to person through the air, by breathing, coughing and sneezing.

O foliga va’aia muamua o le Misela e aofia ai le;

  • maualuga o le fiva
  • tafe le isu
  • mūmū ma suavaia pe tīgā mata
  • tīgā mata pe a taia i le malamalama.
  • O le pata o le tino e alia’e pe a ua maua se tagata i le Misela i totonu o le 3-5 aso e amata mai le ulu, faasolo atu i foliga ma le ua, ma aofia ai le tino atoa.

E le o āuga uma poo’o foliga vaaia o le Misela e alia’e ma vaaia pe a ua a’afia se tagata.

Initial symptoms generally appear 10–12 days after being infected (timeframe ranges from 7–18 days).

Initial signs and symptoms are:

  • High fever
  • Running nose and sneezing
  • Cough
  • Red, watery eyes
  • White spots in the mouth

3–5 days after the initial symptoms, a rash will appear. A red, blotchy, non-blistering rash will start at the hairline and behind the ears, spreading over the face and then down the body. The rash is not itchy.

A person with measles may not get all these symptoms.

PREVENTION THROUGH VACCINATION

Fa’asilasilaga taua mo tapenaga o le fa’agasologa o tui puipui lautele e pei ona faatonuina i lalo o le Vaega 105 ma le 106 o le Faiga Faavae o le Malo o Samoa i Fa’alavelave Faafuasei. E talosagaina le utagia mai o lenei  fa’asalalauga

  • O i latou o lo’o manaomia ona ave ai le faamuamua;O tama ma teine i le va o le 6 masina le matutua agai I le 19 tausaga.
  • O tamaitai/tina 20 – 35 tausaga le matutua. Fa’amolemole, e le tuiina tina/tama’itai ma’i to.
  • Aso Gafua 2 of Tesema sa suia ai le faia o tui puipui mo tagata uma mai le 6masina I le 60 tausaga.

Mo le silafia, i le mae’a ai o le tui puipui, e 2 vaiaso faatoa atoatoa le aoga o le tui puipui. Fautuaina le puipui o oei totonu o le 2 vaiaso faatapula’aina.

Mo tagata lautele: O le a fai uma tui puipui mo tagata uma pe a ma’ea uma tui puipui o e o lo’o ave ai le fa’amuamua i le taimi nei.

Under the national measles vaccination campaign, priority vaccination is being provided to those most at risk of serious complications from measles. These are: 

  • All boys and girls, aged 6 months to 19 years
  • Women aged 20 to 35 years, EXCEPT pregnant women
  • As of 2nd December 2019 the eligibitity age changes to include all from 6months to 60years. However, the priority remains on the high risk groups.

It is important that the efficacy of the vaccine comes into effect two (2) weeks after receiving the vaccination. Precautionary measures should be taken in this two week period. **

Other age groups: Other age groups will be provided measles vaccination after the prioritised vulnerable target age groups are completed.

Mo tama ma teine uma e 6 masina i le 19 tausaga le matutua.

  • O le 6 masina i le 4 tausaga o le tamaititi e lei ato’atoa le malosi o lona puipuiga faa- le-natura e tali atu ai i fa’amai e ono a’afia ai pei o le misela.
  • Tusa ai ma fa’amaumauga o lo’o iai nei, 90% o i latou o lo’o tigaina i le misela ma taofia i le falemai o pepe ma tamaiti laiti..
  • Tusa foi po’o ua maea ona fai muamua tui puipui o tamaiti i le tuiga masani, e saogalemu lava le toe faia o le tui puipui.
  • E tatau ona faia tui puipuia o tamaiti e amata mai le 6 masina agai le 19 tausaga sei vagana ua maea ona faia se tui puipui misela mo le 28 aso(4 vaiaso) ua tuanai atu.

Fanau laiti (6 – 12 masina)

I taimi o faalavelave matuia  e pei o le fa’amai pipisi o le misela.

  • E fautuaina le faia o tui puipui o le pepe e amata mai i le 6 masina le matua.
  • O lenei tui o le tuiga faaopopo (supplementary).
  • A mae’a ona faia  tui puipui fa’aopopo, e pei ona fautauina. E  taua le toe fa’amautu i se tausi soifua poo se foma’i le toe  foi i le fa’agasologa masani o le kalena o tui puipui.
  • O le puipuiga sili o le faia o le tui puipui o le fanau.
  • E le fautuaina le faia o le tui puipui o le tama ititi e LALO o le 6 masina le matua (Under 6 months).

Tamaitai/Tina (E LE TO)

Mo tama’ita’i/tina E  20 – agai I le 35 tausaga le matutua e le o to, e taua le faia o tui puipui o le misela.

  • O le mafuaaga ina ia puipui le pepe ae le’i fanau ma’i pe a a’afia le tina i le misela a’o ma’i to.
  • E le fautuaina le fai o tui puipui o tina ma tamaitai to.
  • Afai e lei fai se tui puipui, e taua i tina ma tamaitai, ona fai tui puipui ae lei to ina ia puipuia ai o ia ma pepe.
  • Mo tina/tama’ita’i sa to, e fautuaina le vave fai o le tui puipui pe a ua fanau ma malosi e fealua’i.
  • Mo tina ma tamaitai uma fautuaina le fa’atali mo le 4 vaiaso pe sili atu foi ona fa’atoā fuafua lea o se tō fou.
  • Mo tina ma tamaitai failele uma e fautauina le fafaga  o pepe ua na o le suasusu o le tina, i le uluai 6 masina.

All boys and girls aged 6 months to 19 years of age:

  • Children aged 6 months to 4 years have the lowest immunization coverage and are also most at risk of complications, in addition to teenagers aged 15 to 19 years. 
  • To date on average over 90% of all serious measles cases who have been admitted to hospital have been in infants and young children.
  • Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of measles and its complications, including death. They should be prioritized in particular for their protection.
  • Every child and young person aged 6 months to 19 years should get vaccinated, EXCEPT if they have received their last dose of measles vaccine in the last 28 days (4 weeks).
  • It is safe to receive multiple doses of the vaccine.

Infants (6 – 12 months)

  • During a measles outbreak, babies are recommended to receive a measles vaccine as early as 6 months of age.
  • This dose of vaccine is a supplementary dose, and your child will still need to receive the other two doses of MMR vaccine, as recommended under Samoa’s national vaccination schedule.
  • An additional dose given to an infant from 6 months of age provides them the best protection against measles during this outbreak.
  • Measles vaccines should not be given to babies under the age of 6 months.  

 

Women (childbearing age)

  • Women aged up to 20 – 35 years, and who aren’t pregnant, will also be prioritized for vaccination.
  • Women who are pregnant should not be vaccinated.
  • If a women is unimmunized, they should get vaccinated before pregnancy, or after giving birth because this provides immunity some immunity to the child. The mother may receive her measles vaccine after delivery as per advice by medical doctor.
  • After vaccination, women should refrain from getting pregnant for 4 weeks.
  • Nursing mothers should practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of the babies life.
  • Fa’amanatu – Aua le faia le tui puipui pe afai ua fiva.E fautuaina le faafesootai o se fomai mo le faamaoniga ma nisi fautuaga.
  • Mo i latou ua mae’a ona fai tui puipui i le 4 vaiaso talu ai, e le fautuaina le toe fai o tui puipui.
  • E le fautuaina le fai o tui puipui o tina ma tamaitai to. Ae afai e le i faia se tui puipui o le tina/tama’ita’i to, e taua le fa’aaoga o fautuaga mo puipuiga lautele ma ia taumamao mai nofoaga tumutumu, fufulu mama lima i se fasi moli ma vai mama, ma ia fa’aaoga tali fofoga (mask) sei maea lelei le pepesi o le misela.
  • O i latou e iai ma’i tumau e tuga ma ua fa’avaivaia ai o latou tino ma puipuiga fa’alenatura, ma o lo’o fa’atino togafitiga e pei o i latou ua maua i le kanesa ma le HIV.

Reminder: Individuals experiencing a high fever and other serious illnesses should not be vaccinated and referred to a doctor. The person should return for vaccination once well.

  • Individuals who have been vaccinated with a measles vaccine in the past 4 weeks should not be vaccinated.
  • Pregnant women should NOT receive the measles vaccine. If pregnant and unvaccinated, individuals must take additional precautions to avoid getting measles, including keeping away from people with measles, regularly wash hands with soap and water, wearing a face mask when in public and avoiding mass gatherings and crowds until the outbreak is over.
  • People who have severely compromised immune systems, such as if they are receiving chemotherapy or are HIV positive, should not be vaccinated.
  1. Pupuni lou fofoga pe a tale, fa’aaogā se solosolo po’o se solo pepa mamā po’o se tali fofoga (mask) e fa’aititia ai le pipisi o le siama
  2. Taofi le feoa’i i vaega e tumutumu ai tagata ma nofoaga faitele. Nofo lelei pe taofi fanau i le fale pe a ua alia’e ni auga o le misela
  3. Ia mautinoa ua fai tui puipui o fanau laiti ua 6 masina le matutua ma luga atu.
  4. Fuafua lelei taumafa i meaai soifua maloloina
  5. Ia mautinoa le fufulu mamā o lima i se fasimoli ma vai mama i taimi uma o le aso aemaise pe a tafe le isu, mafatua po’o le tausiga fo’i o se tasi ua a’afia i le misela
  6. Ia mataala i ni a’afiaga ogaoga o le misela pe a alia’e, ma ia vave vaai ma feso’ota’i se falema’i lata ane.
  1. Cover your mouth when coughing, and use clean handkerchiefs or masks
  2. Stay at home if you are sick and avoid visiting public places and crowded areas
  3. Make sure that young babies, 6 months and above are vaccinated against measles
  4. Eat healthy nutritious foods
  5. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially if you are sick
  6. Stay alert for danger signs of measles and report immediately to your nearest health facility.

VACCINATION CAMPAIGN DETAILS

E tusa ai ma le tali atu o le atunu’u i le fa’atinoga o le puipuiga o le pipisi o le misela, o le a fa’atinoina tui puipui mo Samoa atoa e amata atu i le; Aso Lulu, 20 Novema, 2019 seia o’o le aso (e toe fa’ailoa atu mo le silafia i le mamalu o le atunu’u)

O le sini autu o lenei polokalame ina ia faia tui puipui o i latou o lo’o tele le a’afiaga i le misela.

O le a fa’atino tui puipui i nofoaga ma taimi o le a taua i lalo;

 Upolu: o le a fa’aauau pea ona fa’atinoina tui puipui I falema’i tutotonu ma falema’i fa’aitumalo; Taimi – Aso Gafua – Aso Faraile 9 taeao – 8 afiafi; Aso Toonai 9 taeao – 1 aoauli

  • TTM – Moto’otua
  • Faleolo
  • Leulumoega
  • Lufilufi
  • Lalomanu
  • Poutasi
  • Sa’anapu
  • Wellness and Youth Friendly Centre at Matagialalua (nofoaga faapitoa)
  • Samoa Family Health Association Office (nofoaga faapitoa)

Mo  Savai’i:

  • Falemai Tutotonu i Tuisivi
  • Falemai faaleitumalo
  • Safotu
  • Sataua
  • Foilalo

Mo auaunaga faapitoa e tatalaina;

Aso Gafua – Aso Faraile 9 taeao – 5 afiafima le Aso Toanai 9 taeao – 1 aoauli

  • Fale Samoa – Ofisa o Turisi ma Tagata Maimoa
  • Ofisa Koluse Mumu

O le a iai fo’i ni auaunaga fa’aopoopo mo tui puipui e fa’atinoina i totonu o nisi o nu’u ma afioaga ma e fa’ailoa atu lava taimi mautu ona e iai suiga i le lumana’i. E logo puiali’i pea le mamalu o le atunu’u mo fa’amatalaga o nei auaunaga.E le totogiina se tupe o le faia o tui puipui.

Mo nisi Fa’amatalaga mo aso ma nofoaga o lo’o fa’atino ai lenei auaunga, silasila i auala o upega o tafa’ilagi – www.health.gov.ws, MOH Facebook page, pe vili numera – 997/911.
In response to the outbreak the Government will be running a free national measles immunization campaign, starting Wednesday 20 November 2019.

 

This campaign will aim to immunize the target age groups who are most at risk of measles.

Free measles vaccination will be available at the following locations and times:

UPOLU:

Services operating 9am to 8pm Monday – Friday and 9am – 1pm Saturday:

  • TTM Hospital 
  • Faleolo District Health Center
  • Leulumoega District Health Center
  • Lufilufi District Health Center
  • Lalomanu District Health Center
  • Poutasi District Health Center
  • Saanapu District Health Center
  • Wellness and Youth Friendly Centre at Matagialalua (special booth)
  • Samoa Family Health Association Office (special booth)

Apia based clinics operating Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, and 9am – 1pm Saturday:

  • Samoa Tourism Authority Fale
  • Samoan Red Cross Office

SAVAI’I

Services operating 9am to 8pm Monday – Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday:

  • MT2 Hospital 
  • Safotu District Health Center
  • Sataua District Health Center
  • Foailalo District Health Center
  • Satupaitea District Health Center

Ministry of Health teams will also be going out to communities on certain dates providing FREE vaccinations. The community will be updated with further information about the dates and locations of the outreach immunization teams.

For more information on these dates and locations, visit the Ministry of Health website at https://www.health.gov.ws/measles/ or MOH Facebook page, or call 997/911.

Let’s work together to end this measles outbreak in Samoa.

O i  latou e 6 masani – 19 tausaga le matutua (fanau tama ma teine), 20 – 35 tausaga tina/tamaitai e le o to. E le aofia ai i latou ua;

  • Uma ona fai tui puipui o le (MR po’o le MMR) i aso 28 talu ai
  • Tina ma tamaitai to
  • E iai faamaumauga o le falemai sa iai ni aafiaga tuga pe a fai le tui
  • O i latou e iai ma’i tumau/ ogaoga e pei o le Kanesa, HIV. E fautuaina le saili o le fautuaga ma le faamaoniga a fomai.

Everyone in the priority groups should be immunized, unless they are:

  • they have received a measles vaccine (MR or MMR) in the past 28 days OR
  • they are a pregnant woman OR
  • they have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of a measles vaccine OR
  • they are severely immunocompromised (such as people with HIV or leukemia, and those receiving chemotherapy or large doses of corticosteroids).

So’o se tui puipui po’o se vailaau e iai le taimi e alia’e ai ni āuga e le i mafaufauina. O le to’atele o tagata ua mae’a o latou tui puipui o le misela e le iai ni āuga e alia’e. O lona uiga, o le puipuiga sili o le misela o le fai o tui puipui o le fanau. O nisi nei o āuga masani e ono alia’e pe a mae’a ona fai le tui puipui o le MMR (Mami, Misela, Rupela):

  • fula pe mūmū le vaega o le tino na tui
  • fiva
  • pata laititi o le tino

E fautuaina pe a alia’e nei auga; ina ia fa’ainu vai o mea tigā (Panadol) e fa’aititia ai le fiva. E fautuaina le saili o le fautuaga ma le faamaoniga mai le fomai.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. Most people who get a measles vaccine do not experience serious side effects. Getting the measles vaccine is much safer than getting measles. The most common side effects of the vaccine are:  

  • Localized pain (from the injection) and/or reaction (swelling, redness) 
  • Fever 
  • Mild rash 

You can help alleviate the pain with paracetamol  and cold compress. Please seek clearance from doctor before taking any medications

COMMUNITY PREVENTION and PUBLIC HEALTH

Ausetalia ma Niu Sila

  • E le o iai se faamaoniga e manaomia o tui puipui o le misela mo le femalagaiga i Niu Sila ma Ausetalia.

Papua New Guinea (Papua Niu Kini)

  • E manaomia le faamaoniga o tui puipui o le misela mo femalagaiga i Papua Niu Kini

Amerika Samoa:

  • E faamalosia le iai o le faamaoniga o tui puipui ae lei malaga ese mai Samoa mo Amerika Samoa.
  • Fa’amolemole e fautuaina le susū ane i le falema’i tele i Moto’otua e fa’atumu le pepa fa’amaonia o tui puipui mo le malaga.

Femalagaiga i Samoa

Femalagaiga i le va o motu:

  • E tusa ai ma le Poloaiga o le Tulaga o Fa’alavelave Fa’afuase’i; ua fa’asaina nei ona toe malaga le fanau laiti (pepe seia o’o le 19 tausaga le matutua) i le taimi nei se’ia iai seisi fa’asalalauga i le lumana’i.

Fautuaga mo femalagaiga uma:

  • E fautuaina le fa’atino o le tui puipui i totonu o le 2 vaiaso ae le’i malaga ese atu se tagata i atunu’u i fafo

International:

Australia and New Zealand

  • There is no requirement to provide proof of measles vaccination to enter Australia and New Zealand.

Papua New Guinea:

  • Proof of measles vaccination is required if travelling to PNG.

American Samoa:

  • It is compulsory for all the travelers to American Samoa to get vaccinated before leaving Samoa.
  • Those who are travelling are advised to get a confirmation letter from the Ministry of Health at both the Moto’otua and Tuasivi hospitals

Domestic:

Travel between islands:

  • Under the new orders of the State of Emergency, no child under the age of 19 can’t travel between Upolu and Savai’i until further notice.

Travel recommendation:

  • Members of the public who are planning to travel internationally are recommended to ensure they are vaccinated two weeks before travel.

HOME BASED CARE

Afai ua masalomia ua a’afia se tasi i le misela, o auala nei e tatau ona fai;

  • E taua le fa’anofo lelei i se potu po’o se vaega o le fale, ia mamao ese ma le aiga atoa. Taumamao mai nofoaga faitele ma vaega e masani e tumutumu ai tagata.
  • Ia fa’ataumamao ese tagata ua a’afia mai pepe ma fanau laiti faapea ma tina/tama’ita’i to e le’i faia tui puipui.
  • Ia aua nei momoe fa’atasi, pe aai ma feinu fa’atasi ma i latou o lo’o a’afia
  • Fautuaina le lava lelei le mālōlō
  • Ia lava le inu o le vai auli mamā, se niu po’o sua o fualaau aina suamalie aemaise pe a fiva
  • A ua a’afia i le fiva, ia inu fuālaau mea tigā (Panadol) ma ia solo lona tino i se vai mālū pe fa’aaoga launonu po’o lauti e fa’amālū ai le tino
  • E mafai ona taumafa ae fautuaina ia tele fualaau faisua po’o fualaau aina i totonu o taumafa
  • E tāua lava le fa’aauauina o le fafagaina o pepe i le suāsusu o le tinā
  • Talosaga atu ina ia fufulu mamā lima i taimi uma aemaise le tausi ma’i
  • Ia fa’aaogā fo’i se tali fofoga (mask) pe a tale pe mafatua e fa’aititia ai le pipisi o le fa’ama’i
  • Ia fa’aaogā se pepa solo mamā po’o se solosolo mamā pe a tale pe tafe le isu

O le a mea e fai pe ua iai ni a’afiaga ogaoga?

  • Afai ua iai ni a’afiaga ogaoga e fautuaina le vave vaai o se foma’i aemaise pe afai ua;
  • Fa’atetele le fiva
  • Fa’asuati
  • Oso fa’ama’i maliu
  • Fa’apepe tino ma faigata ona fafau
  • Le fiaai pe fiainu (aemaise lava le fanau laiti)
  • Faigata pe vave le manava

Fautuaga Lautele:

  • E fautuaina tagata uma o lou aiga e aofia ai i latou i tausaga o lo’o ave ai le fa’amuamua (6 masina – 19 tausaga) le matutua faatasi ai ma tina/tama’ita’i to 20 -35 tausaga) ina ia faia o latou tui puipui.
  • Mo Upolu – e 10 nofoaga o le a fa’atino ai tui puipui
  • Mo Savaii – 5 nofoaga o le a fa’atino ai tui puipui
  • E aofia ma le auaunga fa’aopoopo o le a fa’agasolo atu i Upolu ma Savaii.

Mo nisi fa’amatalaga: Telefoni – 997/911

  • Isolate the sick family member to a room or a specific area in the home. Avoid mass gatherings and public spaces.
  • Keep the sick person away from young infants and unimmunized pregnant women.
  • Do not share bedding, clothing, food or drinks with those unwell with measles.
  • Encourage the patient to rest well
  • Encourage them to drink plenty of water, niu or fruit juice especially if they have a fever
  • Cool sponge and/or Panadol can help settle the fever,
  • Using lau nonu or lau ti is also advisable for managing the fever
  • Regular meals are okay if they feel hungry
  • Breast feeding should continue for babies
  • Encourage hand washing every time especially the care givers at home
  • Encourage to wear masks at home

 Danger signs – please bring the sick person to hospital quickly if they are getting worse, especially if they have:

  • Fever (temperature) is very high
  • Vomiting
  • Fits
  • Drowsy or difficulty waking them up
  • Not eating or drinking (especially children)
  • Fast breathing or difficulty breathing

 General information:

  • Encourage other members of your family in the target age group (6 months – 19 years, and non-pregnant women 20 to 35) to get vaccinated.
  • There are currently 10 fixed sites in Upolu and 5 fixed sites in Savaii for vaccinations (main hospital and health centres), including mobile teams in both Upolu and Savaii

 Further Information:

Please contact 997/911 if you have any further questions