DOH: Over 1M Mindanao kids vaccinated vs measles, rubella

Over 1 million children in Mindanao have so far been vaccinated against measles-rubella in the first week of the Department of Health’s (DOH) supplemental immunization activity (SIA), the agency said on Saturday.

The DOH said that this figure represents 36 percent of the total 2.8 million children ages 6 to 59 months that the agency is targeting to vaccinate in Mindanao for the first phase of its SIA against the disease.

The DOH started its SIA on Jan. 19, with Mindanao as its first stop. The agency also said that the vaccine rollout in Mindanao would last until February before proceeding to Luzon and Visayas in June.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa reminded the public of the importance of vaccination against the disease to prevent health complications, and even death.

“Vaccination is one way to prevent hospitalization among children. If you are vaccinated against measles, the child will most likely not be hospitalized if they have bronchopneumonia. The complications and deaths will be prevented,” Herbosa said in a radio interview.

Ask LGUs

Herbosa said the public can ask their local government units (LGUs) to coordinate with the DOH for its inoculation program, called “Ligtas Tigdas.”

See Also

British, French planes strike IS facility in Syria

The DOH earlier said that the cases of measles and rubella in the country rose to 5,123 from January to December 2025, a 32-percent higher than the 3,880 cases recorded during the same period in 2024.

The agency said it aims to vaccinate 11 million children, starting with Mindanao, where several regions reported the highest number of new cases.

These regions are Zamboanga Peninsula, northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.