Tragedy struck in Samoa on April 29, 2023, when a 4-month-old infant died after receiving routine vaccinations at a local health centre. While it is still uncertain whether the vaccinations contributed to the baby’s death, the Ministry of Health has launched an investigation into the matter and extended its condolences to the family.
The Ministry of Health has a robust system in place to monitor and report any adverse events following vaccination. This system includes internal processes and formal investigations conducted by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. While the investigation is ongoing, the Ministry has released some preliminary information.
According to senior officials from the Ministry of Health, the baby received the routine vaccination due at 14 weeks old, as per the immunization schedule, at the Motootua Site. Six hours later, the baby was rushed to the emergency department in critical condition. Medical staff attempted resuscitation but were unable to save the infant.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that the nurses who administered the vaccines followed all standard procedures for the care, storage, and administration of vaccines. Other infants who received vaccines from the same batch, including the deceased baby’s twin, did not experience any adverse reactions.
The Ministry seeks to reassure the public of the safety and efficacy of WHO-approved vaccines used in the immunization program, which have been used for many decades worldwide. Since 2019, more than 500,000 childhood vaccinations and nearly 350,000 COVID-19 vaccinations have been safely administered in Samoa. These vaccines undergo rigorous clinical trials and are only approved for use in the wider population after their safety and efficacy have been thoroughly tested.
The Ministry urges the public to continue bringing their children for vaccination as per the vaccination schedule outlined in the Child Health Book, particularly given the threat of the outbreak in American Samoa. The Ministry also emphasizes the importance of intensive training, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure the proper care, storage, and administration of vaccines and to prevent incidents like the tragic deaths of two infants in Samoa in 2018.
The Ministry will continue its vaccination program and cooperate with investigating teams from the World Health Organization and UNICEF to determine whether the infant’s death was related to the vaccine or a coincidental event. The public will be regularly updated as the investigation continues, and the case has been referred to the coroner.
Despite this tragic incident, it is important to recognize the overall safety and efficacy of vaccines in protecting the health and well-being of populations. The Ministry of Health remains committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens and providing access to life-saving vaccines.
