THE Ministry of Health is expanding the measles immunisation campaign across Fiji.
The ministry aims to have all of its target groups vaccinated by Christmas.
according to a statement by the ministry, since the outbreak was declared on 7 November 2019, around 200,000 people in Fiji have been immunised against measles.
The national campaign will continue to target people who are most at risk of being infected by measles and spreading the disease.
Target groups are:
• All children aged 6 months to 5 years
• All people born between 1980 and 2000 (19 to 39 year olds, who should have ID available if
asked)
• Any child in Fiji who has not received 2 doses of a measles vaccine according to the national
immunisation schedule
• Any child in Fiji aged 12 and 18 months in Fiji who are due their routine measles
immunisation according to the national immunisation schedule
• Any person in Fiji travelling overseas (evidence of travel must be provided i.e. a travel
itinerary or ticket)
• All health care workers
• All airport and port-of-entry workers, and hotel staff
The only exceptions to those in the above groups are pregnant women, children under the age of 6 months, those with compromised immune systems (including those on immunosuppressive medication/treatment), and those with a known allergy to the vaccine. These people should not be vaccinated.
People aged 40 and over are not a target group. They are likely to have had measles as a child (before the vaccine was introduced) and therefore have life-long immunity.
Immunisation for target groups will be available at all Ministry of Health and Medical Services health centres and nursing stations.
Ministry teams will also go house to house to immunise people in the target groups.
Immunisation outreach posts have also been set up at the locations listed for the target groups.
