Measles deaths: Anti-vaxxers flood Samoa Govt's Facebook page with 1-star reviews

A girl receives a vaccination against measles in Apia, a the toll rises during an outbreak in Samoa. Photo / Unicef

Anti-vaxxer campaigners are leaving one-star reviews on the Government of Samoa's Facebook page, expressing their opposition to vaccinations in the wake of the measles epidemics on the island.

A total of 65 people have died of measles in Samoa since the outbreak and the number is expected to rise.

Most of the deadly victims were under 5 years old.

A brigade of antivax Karens from the US descending upon the FB page of the Government of Samoa *to leave 1-star reviews* is...next level. 😑 pic.twitter.com/3RPObqi8Wj

— Renee DiResta (@noUpside) December 7, 2019

The government of Samoa launched a mass vaccination campaign to try to stop the spread of the deadly disease as it continues to claim lives.

The anti-vaxxers, mostly from the US, took to Facebook to express their opposition to the government's decision to make the vaccine mandatory.

A number of one-star reviews, with anti-vaccine comments, were left on the government's Facebook page as the country continues focused on trying to stop the spread of the disease.

A thread with screenshots of the reviews has been shared on Twitter where users are suggested Facebook needs to take action against anti-vaxxers by banning their accounts, in a bit to stop misinformation.

There were now more than 4,300 measles reported since the outbreak started.

People without the measles vaccine have been told to leave a red flag or cloth outside their homes.

In the first day of the shutdown, it's estimated about 6000 vaccinations were administered.

Today, PM Tuilaepa announced the preliminary figures for the Door to Door Mass Vaccination Campaign (only).
•5 Dec – 17,551
•6 Dec (AM) – 3,089
Clarification on collection of above data and full press conference at: https://t.co/qsdplMvaNr pic.twitter.com/ww0qUpY15q

— Government of Samoa (@samoagovt) December 5, 2019