Tonga’s high childhood immunisation rates have kept measles at bay, even as outbreaks surge globally.
Dr George ‘Aho, Head of Paediatrics at Tonga’s Ministry of Health, praised the country’s measles vaccination program during this week’s launch of Immunisation Week. He highlighted that Tonga has remained measles-free since 2020, attributing this success to sustained high vaccination coverage among children.
“We’ve learned from the devastating outbreaks of 1997 and 1998,” Dr ‘Aho said. “Since then, we’ve prioritised immunisation, and our children are safer for it.”
The Pacific region has not reported a measles outbreak in the past five years, a stark contrast to other parts of the world. In 2024, Europe recorded 127,350 measles cases—the highest since 1997—with over 40% of cases in children under five and more than half requiring hospitalisation
Dr ‘Aho warned that measles remains a deadly threat in regions with lower vaccination rates, including parts of Asia, the Americas, and Europe. “Many children still die from measles globally,” he said. “Vaccination is our strongest defence.”
Tonga’s proactive approach contrasts sharply with countries like Samoa, which faced a deadly outbreak in 2019 due to low immunisation rates and vaccine misinformation.
