The first court hearing has taken place in Samoa for a nurse charged over the death of two toddlers.
She was charged with manslaughter, negligence and perverting the course of justice after the children died after being given the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Health officials have emphasised it's not an issue with the vaccine, and say the incident has shaken public confidence in vaccine programs.
"Well, from what I gather it is human error," says Samoa Health Ministry director general Dr Take Naseri.
It's believed the vaccine may have been contaminated or was not prepared properly.
Autopsies have been completed, but Dr Naseri says the results have not been released publicly because more tests are needed.
"We are not hiding anything and we are not trying to make excuses," Dr Naseri says.
"With this type of tragedy, we wouldn't want to rush."
In the meantime, Samoa's MMR program remains on hold and public confidence in the health system has been severely shaken.
"There are a lot of people who are against vaccinations. There is a school of thought that they don't need vaccinations," Dr Naseri says. "It is not helping us in any way."
The nurse at the centre of the allegations hasn't entered a plea to the charges, but she has been released from custody.
"We are supporting the nurse. We do all that we can for the release of the nurse," president of Samoa Nurses Association, Solialofi Papalii, says.
"Not only that but we support in counselling."
Health officials in Samoa hope the case doesn't lead to the entire MMR program being abolished - as they say countless lives have been saved because of their vaccine programme.
Any further clarity on exactly what occurred may have to wait till next month, after an inquest has been completed.
Newshub.
