Remember the two young children who died in Samoa in early July 2018, shortly after getting an MMR vaccine?
In addition to the tragic deaths of those two children, it led to the suspension of all vaccinations in the country.
The Tragedy in Samoa Was Not Caused by the MMR Vaccine
Fortunately, that suspension was eventually reversed, but they did continue to hold MMR vaccinations.
How long did they suspend MMR vaccinations?
They didn’t restart until April 15.
And while the trial for the two nurses involved in the tragedy is delayed until June, the Director General of Health, Leausa Take Naseri, has said that their deaths were a mistake caused by human error.
“On 4 June 2019, both nurses pleaded guilty to negligence causing manslaughter. On 2 August, both nurses were sentenced to five years in prison. During the sentencing hearing, it was confirmed that one of the nurses mixed the MMR vaccine powder with expired muscle relaxant anaesthetic instead of water for injection supplied in a vial with the vaccine.”
Infant deaths in Samoa a tragic outcome from error preparing MMR vaccine
With measles outbreaks in many nearby countries, health experts and parents are eager to get vaccinations restarted and to get kids caught up.
Hopefully, they get vaccinated before anti-vaccine folks head to Samoa to try and scare folks away from getting vaccinated.
More on The Vaccine Tragedy in Samoa
- Update on the Samoa Vaccine Tragedy
- Vaccination Tragedies are Rare
- Everything You Need to Know About the Measles Vaccine
- Infant deaths in Samoa a tragic outcome from error preparing MMR vaccine
- Samoan nurses jailed over deaths of two babies who were given incorrectly mixed vaccines
- Baby deaths caused by incorrect vaccination procedure – Samoa health ministry confirms
- Reassurances to Samoans from expert – MMR vaccinations are safe
- Samoa MMR vaccinations to resume on April 15
- Training and preparation underway in Samoa for restart of MMR vaccinations
- Samoan nurses’ MMR trial delayed until June
- Samoa vaccine story – tragedy abused by anti-vaccine websites
- Mothers share views on vaccination
- Human error suspected in deaths
- Second nurse faces manslaughter charge over vaccination deaths
- Attorney General confirms that Police have charged nurse in relation to vaccine deaths
- What happened in Samoa?
- Medical error likely cause of Samoa baby deaths – vaccinologist
- Anti-vaccination activists linked to Manly-Warringah Rugby League Club
- Planned Apia anti-vaccine workshop worries Ministry, WHO
- Stop Anti-Vax Taylor Winterstein from Spreading Dangerous Misinformation NZ
- Concerns about vaccine workshop scheduled to be held in Samoa
- ‘Irresponsible’: Wife of NRL player charges $200 for anti-vax workshop
- Taylor Winterstein – Vaxxed Australia