Apia, SAMOA — Samoa's Prime Minister has ruled out an amnesty for parents whose children are yet to be fully vaccinated for measles. A law was passed at the height of the ongoing measles epidemic in December, mandating parents to ensure their children are vaccinated and making it a prerequisite for school enrollments.

The epidemic has so far claimed 83 lives, most of them children. As of Monday, there have been 5,697 measles cases reported to the Disease Surveillance Team since the outbreak started in October.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said schools had six months to produce a vaccination policy. He said principals who accepted children who don't meet the vaccination criteria could be fined $USD 3,700.

[Samoa News should point out that American Samoa has extended its ‘short amnesty’ program to all overstayers — the period now ends Feb. 6, 2020, having been extended for another 30 days from Jan. 7th. The governor stated in a press release that one of the important requirements under the short amnesty is for the immigrant or overstayer to be vaccinated and present proof documentation to the Immigration Office.]