007_DSC5401
Ramona Lealaisalanoa (centre) comforts her daughter Faâamavaega Lealaisalanoa 4 years and 1 months, who is recovering from measles in the measles isolation ward at Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital. Apia, Samoa.
As of December 16th 2019, there have been 5,200 confirmed cases of measles and 73 deaths in Samoa - out of a population of just over 200,000 people. A measles outbreak beginning in October has impacted the small island nation, which before the outbreak had a vaccination rate of only between 28-40% according to the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). Responding to the outbreak, the Samoan government has issued a state of emergency and enacted a mobile vaccination program which has now reportedly vaccinated over 90% of the population.
12th December 2019. Matthew Abbott for The New York Times.