The Department of Health (DOH) will intensify vaccination efforts against measles (tigdas) and measles-rubella (tigdas hangin) following a 29 percent increase in nationwide cases of the latter compared to last year.
In a statement on Saturday, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa announced that the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR SIA) will be conducted in two phases next year.
The first phase will cover Mindanao and BARMM from January 19 to February 13, 2026, while the second phase will target Luzon and Visayas in June 2026. The campaign will focus on children aged 6 months to 5 years, who are most at risk.
“Sa pamamagitan ng Ligtas-Tigdas Vaccination, paiigtingin ng kagawaran, katuwang ang lokal na pamahalaan, ang bakunahan kontra-tigdas o measles at tigdas-hangin o rubella para mapigilan ang pagkamatay ng mga bata dahil sa sakit,” the statement read.
As of December 6, DOH recorded 4,843 measles-rubella cases, up from 3,748 in 2024, with 73 percent (3,511 cases) unvaccinated. Most cases were reported in the National Capital Region (1,027), BARMM (768), and CALABARZON (505).
“Patuloy pa rin ang pagbabakuna sa mga health centers at itinalagang fixed vaccination sites kahit ngayong holiday season kaya inaanyayahan ang mga magulang na makipag-ugnayan sa pinakamalapit na health center para sa pagpapabakuna ng kanilang mga chikiting,” DOH advised.