NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Coronial inquest into Samoan toddlers' vaccination deaths begins

Vaimoana Tapaleao
By Vaimoana Tapaleao
Pasifika Editor·NZ Herald·
25 Jul, 2018 03:18 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Lannacallystah Samuelu was one of two children who died on Friday, July 6, shortly after getting an MMR shot at Safotu District Hospital. Photo / TV1 Samoa

Lannacallystah Samuelu was one of two children who died on Friday, July 6, shortly after getting an MMR shot at Safotu District Hospital. Photo / TV1 Samoa

A coronial inquest into the deaths of two toddlers who died after getting MMR vaccinations in Samoa begins today.

Lannacallystah Samuelu and Lameko Si'u, both aged 1, were pronounced dead within minutes of receiving an MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) shot at the Safotu District Hospital, in Savaii, on July 6.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi announced a full inquiry to be carried out into the circumstances of the children's deaths and the Ministry of Health immediately announced the recall of all unused or partly used MMR vaccines on the island.

All MMR vaccinations have been halted until the investigation is complete.

International authorities, including the World Health Organisation and Unicef were also brought in to help with the investigation.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A WHO spokeswoman said the coronial inquest is due to start today and would examine all available evidence - including the autopsy and lab test results.

Autopsy examinations were conducted by medical staff from Australia about a week after the toddlers died.

"WHO is not privy to the result of these tests. They are sent directly by the forensic pathology and lab teams to the Government of Samoa,'' she said.

"WHO has been providing technical support to the investigation.''

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

That support included sending an immunisation expert from the organisation's Manila office, identifying independent experts and institutions to carry out the children's autopsies as well as laboratory tests.

Members of the organisation based in Samoa continue to work closely with Ministry of Health authorities there, who have requested assistance.

"Our immunisation expert from Manila returned to Samoa to provide further support to the Government's investigation this week.''

Unicef staff arrived in Samoa shortly after news of the vaccine-related deaths broke.

Discover more

New Zealand

Samoa stops vaccinations after deaths of two children

10 Jul 06:01 AM
New Zealand

World help to probe Samoa vaccination deaths

11 Jul 06:11 AM
New Zealand

Parents grieve for two kids lost after vaccinations in Samoa

12 Jul 08:41 AM
New Zealand|crime

Samoan nurse charged over baby vaccination deaths

08 Aug 06:49 AM

The world's largest children's charity works with governments in 14 Pacific Island countries to help ensure children receive vaccines to protect against preventable illnesses.

Unicef representative to the Pacific, Sheldon Yett, said: "Obviously, when we have a tragic event like this, it's horrible for everyone involved and we want to make sure that any questions they had - we could answer them for them.

"An event like this is quite traumatic for everybody. Obviously it's a tragedy for the families involved, it's traumatic for anybody involved in the health sector and it does raise questions."

Samoan Police are carrying out its own investigation after the families of Lannacallystah and Lameko made formal complaints.

The nurses who administered the vaccinations have been removed from the hospital for their own safety. No charges have been laid at this stage.

LOCALS AFRAID, BUT AUTHORITIES STRESS THE VACCINE IS SAFE:

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Yett told the Herald there was fear among locals. But authorities are pushing the message that MMR vaccinations are safe and that the deaths were very rare.

"The MMR vaccine has been used around the world since the mid-70s. It's one of the safest vaccines in existence," he said.

"We know that the dangers of not vaccinating children are much, much, much greater than that of dangers of vaccination.

"It's something that is extremely rare - all over the world. People in the Pacific are no different from people anywhere else in the world.

"Without vaccinations, some 20 million children would have died. So we know that it's an extremely effective way of keeping people alive and ensuring children can contribute and live productive lives."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Police seek man after 'deeply concerning' attack on popular Porirua trail

20 Jun 07:03 AM
New Zealand

Have you seen her? Police concerned for missing Dunedin woman

20 Jun 06:45 AM
Crime

Duo jailed after vigilante burglary of Epsom mansion terrorises wrong woman

20 Jun 06:00 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Police seek man after 'deeply concerning' attack on popular Porirua trail

Police seek man after 'deeply concerning' attack on popular Porirua trail

20 Jun 07:03 AM

The woman was shaken by the incident.

Have you seen her? Police concerned for missing Dunedin woman

Have you seen her? Police concerned for missing Dunedin woman

20 Jun 06:45 AM
Duo jailed after vigilante burglary of Epsom mansion terrorises wrong woman

Duo jailed after vigilante burglary of Epsom mansion terrorises wrong woman

20 Jun 06:00 AM
NZ pauses $18.2m aid to Cook Islands amid China deal tensions

NZ pauses $18.2m aid to Cook Islands amid China deal tensions

20 Jun 05:27 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP