The Ministry of Health is currently investigating the death of a 14 week-old baby that occurred on
Saturday 29 April 2023. We extend our heartfelt and deepest condolences to the family at this time.
The Ministry has a system in place to monitor, investigate, clarify, and report on whether an
unfortunate event such as this is due to vaccination or not, given that the baby was also vaccinated
earlier during the day. This system includes an internal process and an external formal investigation
by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, which is being planned. However, we would like to
share the following information based on the preliminary investigation conducted by Senior Ministry
of Health Officials:
1) The baby received vaccination due at 14 weeks old, as per the immunization schedule, at our
Motootua Site. Six (6) hours later the baby was brought to the emergency department at the
hospital in a critical condition.). Despite swift action by the medical team, including
resuscitation, the baby unfortunately passed away.
2) Other infants who were vaccinated from the same batch of vaccines, including the deceased
baby’s twin, have not had any adverse reactions or been brought to the hospital for treatment
or for any other medical concerns. The Ministry of Health continues to follow-up closely with
those families out of an abundance of care and caution and to provide needed support.
3) It has been confirmed that the nurses who administered the vaccines had followed all the
standard procedures accordingly in the care, storage and administration of the vaccines.
We understand that the public may be concerned as to the cause of the unfortunate loss of life this
infant. We wish to reassure the public that the Ministry is investigating this matter and continues to
ensure the proper care, storage and administration of vaccines through intensive training, monitoring
and evaluation to ensure the safety of our people and to prevent incidents like the unfortunate deaths
of the two infants in 2018.
The Ministry wishes to reiterate that nearly 350,000 vaccinations for COVID-19 have been safely
administered and more than 500,000 childhood vaccinations have also been safely administered

since 2019 in Samoa. We reaffirm the safety and effectiveness of these WHO approved vaccines used
in the Ministry’s immunization programme which have been used for many decades world-wide.
WHO approved vaccines go through robust clinical trials and are only approved for use in the wider
population after their safety and efficacy have been rigourously tested.
The Ministry will continue its vaccination programme and strongly urges the public to bring all
children for vaccination as per the vaccination schedule outlined in the Child Health Book. This is
especially important given the threat of the outbreak in American Samoa.
The Ministry will be supporting and cooperating with the investigating teams from the World Health
Organization and UNICEF, who will determine whether this unfortunate event is related to the vaccine
or coincidental in nature. The public will be updated regularly as the investigation continues. The case
has also been referred to the coroner.
Members of the public may contact Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen or Teuila Pati at 66600 or 66693 for
any urgent questions. For psychosocial support if needed, please do not hesitate to call the MOH
Call Center on 800-6440.