Age limits on measles immunisations have been lifted to include all adults up to 60 years, the Government has announced.

More than 30 clinics around Upolu and Savaii will now accept adult men over 20 and women over 35, who were previously not in the priority age group for vaccination as week three of the mass vaccination campaign begins.

People 30 years and older account for 354 (nine per cent) of reported measles cases, and the 20 to 29 cohort number 571 (or 15 per cent). 

Including men older than 20 and adults over 35 is expected to help curb these infections.

The adults were turned away initially to ration the vaccine supply.

In the first two weeks of the mass vaccine campaign, more than a quarter of the population (58,150 people) were vaccinated with measles containing vaccine, joining the nearly 30 thousand people immunised between April and November.

Though nearly half the population is immunised, the vaccine takes two weeks to take full effect. The impacts of this intervention will be realised in time, University of Auckland vaccinologist Dr. Helen Petousis-Harris says.

Vaccination is available at dozens of fixed sites around the Apia Urban Area and every hospital across the country. A mobile unit can be ordered specifically through the phone line 999, managed by the National Emergency Operations Centre.

Mass vaccination campaign clinics include:

Upolu

Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital Emergency Department, Monday to Friday from 8am – 8pm and Saturdays 8am – 1pm

Rural District Hospitals:  Leulumoega, Poutasi, Lalomanu,  Monday to Friday from 8am – 8pm

Community Health Centres: Faleolo, Lufilufi, Saanapu, Monday to Friday from 8am – 8pm

Wellness and Youth Friendly Service (Old Diabetic Clinic), Eleele Fou, Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm and Saturday 8am – 1pm

Samoa Family Health Association, Moto’otua, Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm and Saturday 8am – 1pm

Mobile Service Unit, Samoa Red Cross Headquarters, Tuanaimato, Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm

Samoa Tourism Authority Fale, Eleele Fou, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Myna’s Old Supermarket, Vaoala, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

Laoa Manuleleua Lauese, Vaimoso, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

Fale Komiti, Lepea, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

Catholic Church, Moamoa, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

Savaii

Malietoa Tanumafili II Hospital Emergency Department, Monday to Friday from 8am – 8pm and Saturdays 8am – 1pm.

Rural District Hospitals: Sataua, Safotu, Foailalo, Monday to Friday from 8am – 8pm

Community Health Centre in Satupaitea, Monday to Friday from 8am – 8pm