Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health and its partners, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) are urging parents and carers to ensure children are vaccinated against measles.
People travelling have also been advised to be immunized before they depart Vanuatu.
The Ministry issued a statement as a precaution in response to a measles outbreak reported in some Pacific island countries.
There are currently no cases of measles in Vanuatu.
However, the outbreaks in neighbouring Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand pose a risk of the highly-contagious virus being introduced into Vanuatu.
The Ministry said all members of the public play an important role in helping ensure that measles is not brought to Vanuatu.
The Ministry of Health is highly recommending that if members of the public are travelling abroad they check their immunization status and potentially get a dose of measles vaccine.
“Travelers should ensure that the get their measles booster at least 15 days before departing.”
“Since September 2019, the Ministry has intensified its efforts to respond to the threat of measles, with support from WHO and UNICEF. This includes activating its communicable disease taskforce, increasing efforts to help find and respond to potential cases, increase public awareness and vaccinate certain individuals who are at a high risk of getting measles, including seasonal workers who travel to New Zealand, which is currently experiencing a measles outbreak.”