Samoa's Government says immunisation against measles has reached 89 per cent coverage of the Pacific island nation's population, as it faces a deadly epidemic of the infectious disease.

Key points: Samoa and the UN are appealing for financial assistance to battle and recover from the epidemic

Samoa and the UN are appealing for financial assistance to battle and recover from the epidemic Of those who have died during the crisis, 57 were children under the age of four

Of those who have died during the crisis, 57 were children under the age of four Rising rates of measles globally have been blamed on misinformation from anti-vaxxers

The Government also announced an end to a two-day national shut-down aimed at facilitating a mandatory vaccination campaign aimed at immunising 90 per cent of the population — thus tripling Samoa's coverage in just a few weeks.

Some 120 teams had reportedly moved throughout the country to immunise as many people as possible, with authorities pledging to continue until "all of [the] nation" is covered.

There were, however, 103 new cases of measles reported since Friday, Samoa's Health Ministry said in a statement.

At least 65 people, mostly children, have died in recent weeks as around 4,500 Samoans have been infected by measles in a country of just 200,000 people.

The spread of the virus has reached a crisis point owing to the country's low immunisation rate, which had been as low as 30 per cent.

Roads have been closed to assist the mobile immunisation teams. ( ABC News: Melissa Clarke )

"The impacts of this emergency will be far-reaching on Samoa and our people, particularly our young generations," said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Saiele Malielegaoi in a statement.

Of those who died, 57 were children under the age of four.

"It is imperative therefore to strengthen the culture of acceptance of vaccination in order to create 'herd immunity'," Mr Malielegaoi added.

"This is a painful lesson we have learned from the current crisis."

Samoa and the United Nations have appealed to the international community for about $US10.7 million ($15.6 million) to battle and recover from the crisis.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele broadcast his measles vaccination to dispel vaccination fears. ( Facebook: Government of Samoa )

"We, Samoa, are not a country that is overwhelmed with an abundance of resources," Mr Malielegaoi said in a video posted to Facebook.

"This is not the first time we've had disasters, but this is the only one to do with mass-scale immunisations."

"All the other ones we've had since 1990 have been related to climate change … all with severe destructions of property," Mr Malielegaoi said.

Australia, New Zealand and a number of other countries and organisations, including the UN agency UNICEF, have delivered thousands of vaccines, medical supplies and have sent medical personnel to help with the outbreak.

Law enforcement meanwhile charged an "alleged anti-vaxxer individual" with incitement against the government.

The government alleged that the unnamed suspect, who local media have identified as Edwin Tamasese — a local businessman with no medical training — made the following public statement in reference to the immunisation efforts: "I'll be here to mop up your mess. Enjoy your killing spree."

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Measles cases are rising worldwide, even in wealthy nations such as Germany and the United States, as parents shun immunisation for philosophical or religious reasons, or fears, debunked by doctors, that such vaccines could cause autism.

The World Health Organisation said this week that measles infected almost 10 million people last year, killing 140,000 — mostly children.

The picture for 2019 is even worse, it said, with provisional data up to November showing a three-fold increase in case numbers compared with the same period in 2018.

ABC/wires