Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Director of Education Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga confirmed this week that all public schools — ECE, elementary and high schools — would return to class on Jan. 6, 2020.

And she advised parents to take note that students who remain unvaccinated have been contacted by the departments of Heath and Education to obtain their MMR vaccination. These students “must obtain their shots before they can be admitted to school,” she said but didn’t elaborate on how many students still need the required MMR shots.

As reported by Samoa News on Tuesday, the DoH started mass vaccination of students who have not received their first MMR dose or the second one, on Monday this week.

DoH set up five sites this week to get these students vaccinated before school resumes. Five sites are open this week (except Wed., New Year’s Day) to administer shots. They are: Leone Health Center; Ottoville Business Center (the old Argosy building); Fagaalu Well Baby Clinic; Dept. of Youth and Women’s Affairs in Pago Pago; and Fagaitua HS Gymnasium.

Resumption of school comes after they were shut down following the governor’s emergency declaration on Dec. 8 due to the measles outbreak.