The terrible death toll in Samoa

The death toll from measles in Samoa has now hit 60, which is a massive number for the largest of countries, let alone a small one. So devastating for the families involved.

A very very sad and deadly reminder of why high vaccination rates are so important. It can be literally life and death.

The death toll of 60 out of 200,000 is equivalent to almost 1,500 people dying in New Zealand, which would be our largest loss of life outside a war,

Like everyone I hope the epidemic is curtailed with no further or mininal loss of life.