Samoan traditional healer and well known anti-vaxxer Edwin Tamasese can provide no evidence to prove the MMR vaccine in Samoa is substandard.

And despite this, Tamasese took his anti-vaxx message to the people of Samoa and has publicly denounced on social media the vaccine's ability to immunise Samoans.

Tamasese is now in police custody after being charged with an incitement offence over an alleged comment made about measles vaccine, saying, "I'll be here to mop up your mess. Enjoy your killing spree".

And it's this allegation, and after questioning by police in Savaii, that landed him behind bars pending a court appearance.

In a sit-down interview with Stuff prior to his arrest, Tamasese said he had stopped giving his opinion on the vaccine after being warned by police.

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Stuff asked Tamasese to provide evidence that his claims about the vaccine were true, but he could not.

Reporter: Yes or no, do you have facts that can prove that this vaccine is substandard?

Tamasese: We're building. We are building the facts.

Reporter: So, no?

Tamasese: I'm not going to answer that question that way.

Chris McKeen Samoan anti-vaccine campaigner and natural healer Edwin Tamasese spoke to Stuff prior to his arrest on Thursday.

​Tamasese then offers his diaries where he has kept his notes about the spread of the virus and the conclusions he has come to.

He also confirmed that both his children had received their MMR vaccine, and although he is immune to the virus because he suffered from it as a child, he received all the vaccinations he required as a child.

His theories have been denounced by the medical profession who are working around the clock to immunise the people of Samoa against a mounting death toll that currently sits at 63.

Tamasese has been charged with incitement against the Samoan Government's vaccination order after it was alleged he made public comments slamming the Government-ordered two-day shutdown in a bid to vaccinate the masses.



The charge comes under the 2013 Crimes Act which forbids inciting hostility against the Government of Samoa in circumstances where a risk of of lawlessness, violence or disorder is present.

In a statement, Samoa's Office of the Attorney General said a complaint by a member of the public alleged Tamasese said: "I'll be here to mop up your mess. Enjoy your killing spree."

His arrest on Thursday coincided with the first day of the Government sanctioned shutdown of public and private sectors while the country mobilised against the disease.

Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi has been vocal in his condemnation of those participating in the anti-vaxx movement saying they should be arrested.

Chris McKeen Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi says his Government has zero tolerance for anti-vaxx messages while his people are dying.

Malielegaoi said the anti-vaxx community had been an issue that the Government needed to address swiftly.

"That is the challenge that we have been facing," he said.

"There were also others who were actively encouraging our sick populace not to go to the hospital. The anti-vaccine group not only here but overseas as well and the quality of communication is so high that whatever is said by our diaspora overseas is known immediately by our social media here."

In the interview with Stuff, Tamasese described himself as a Taulasea (traditional healer) that used vitamins and natural plants to heal the sick.

However, Samoan Taulasea spoken to by Stuff and who did not want to be named said the traditional medicines are used primarily for tropical diseases, and fatal diseases like measles must be addressed by qualified doctors.

"We are healers that utilise natural resources of the land," one traditional healer told Stuff.

"With introduced diseases like measles you must go to the hospital, we have no plants that can heal this. Taulasea work hand-in-hand with western medicines on diseases like this."

Tamasese, who has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the South Pacific in Suva, confirmed he is not a qualified doctor or scientist.

Despite having had no medical training, or any training in any type of science, Tamasese said he had administered vitamins and advice to a number of families in Samoa suffering from measles. Some of those he had doctored were currently in hospital. He believes it was his work that saw them brought back from the brink of death.

CHRIS MCKEEN/STUFF The Samoan Government is racing against the clock to immunise its people in a bid to stop many more from dying of the preventable disease (file photo).

"It's horrible when you see these kids," he said.

"The hospitals are too full and they get passed back to the community to die. It's really distressing that's why I've taken it upon myself to be that person that can hopefully give them hope that they will be alright."

﻿​Tamasese's arguments relate to anecdotal evidence and he cites multiple issues with vaccines across the globe but could not provide evidence in relation to the Samoan vaccine.

Tamasese brought up the deaths of babies in Samoa after being prescribed the vaccine, despite investigations showing human error was the cause.

Dr Nikki Turner a vaccine and immunisation specialist says there is no truth in the multiple arguments put forward by Tamasese.

"​The vaccine definitely works," she said.

"The problem is not the vaccine but the severity of measles. If a child gets measles and they are nutritionally deficient then they are more likely to end up with very severe disease. Low income countries have much higher rates of severe measles and deaths from measles and one of the reasons for this is poor nutrition in the children.

"This is why it is even more vital that a country like Samoa vaccinates to protect its children against measles. It would be negligent not to vaccinate when Samoan children are at such high risk of severe measles. Vitamin A is useful to help support an undernourished child with measles but it is not a treatment."

​Asked if he was being irresponsible, Tamasese says that after the warning he has not told families not to get immunised.

"My point has always been - know how to treat it," he said.

SAMOA APPEAL: Donate online at unicef.org.nz/appeal/samoa-measles-emergency to help get more children in Samoa immunised against measles.