Nisha Pandey

Philippines Launches Measles-Rubella Vaccination Drive Targeting 445,000 Children

The Philippines has launched a fresh measles-rubella vaccination campaign in Eastern Visayas, aiming to vaccinate more than 445,000 children aged six to 59 months. 

The intensified Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) will run from August 10 to 28, with support from local governments, schools, community health workers and barangay officials. 

The campaign comes as the country continues to recover from years of declining routine childhood immunisation, which left thousands of children at risk to vaccine-preventable diseases.

"Knowing that our past accomplishments in the country are not that high, the Department of Health decided to have an additional layer of protection for our children by coming up with the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/us-cdc-reports-two-fold-rise-in-deadly-superbug-candida-auris-whos-at-risk-article-155237037" data-type="tilCustomLink">Measles-Rubella Immunization</a> Activity," said Dr Exuperia Sabalberino, Regional Director of the Department of Health Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development. 

According to the Department of Health (DOH), Leyte accounts for the largest target population, with more than 152,000 eligible children, while Biliran has the smallest. 

Children under five years of age will be offered the vaccine regardless of their previous vaccination status if they fall within the campaign's eligibility criteria. 

Health authorities have been race to close immunity gaps and prevent new outbreaks of the highly contagious disease.

The latest push follows concerns over low routine immunisation coverage in several Philippine regions. During the 2023 MR-SIA campaign, Eastern Visayas achieved only 72.6% vaccination coverage, well below the level needed to maintain herd immunity. 

Health officials warn that insufficient coverage increases the risk of <span>measles</span> and rubella outbreaks. "Vaccination is an extra layer of protection and also prevents outbreaks, as <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/cdcs-vaccines-do-not-cause-autism-webpage-sparks-debate-republican-senator-seeks-clarity-article-155184459" data-type="tilCustomLink">measles</a> and rubella are highly contagious because one confirmed case can affect 12 to 18 people, especially those who are vulnerable and immunocompromised," said Chiradee R. Claridad, DOH-8 National Immunization Program Coordinator. 

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/us-measles-cases-reach-2371-rfk-jr-takes-u-turn-urges-families-to-vaccinate-kids-article-155235414" data-type="tilCustomLink">US Measles Cases Reach 2,371; RFK Jr Takes U-Turn, Urges Families to Vaccinate Kids</a>

<h2>Measles Remains A Global Concern</h2>

Measles is among the world's <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/iit-kanpur-scientists-reveal-how-experimental-vaccine-booster-activates-immune-system-encourage-safer-vaccines-article-155146725" data-type="tilCustomLink">most infectious viral diseases</a>, spreading through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

It can lead to serious complications including pneumonia, brain inflammation, blindness and death, particularly in young children. Rubella is generally milder but can cause severe birth defects if a pregnant woman becomes infected.

The Philippines has experienced several major measles outbreaks in recent years, including the nationwide resurgence in 2019 and the Bangsamoro outbreak in 2024, both linked to poor vaccination coverage. 

Can Measles Outbreak Hit India? Dr NK Arora Explains Risk #shorts #shortsfeed #measles

The Philippines has already made progress in recent months. Last month, the DOH announced that over one million children in Metro Manila had been vaccinated, achieving 87.1% coverage under the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/thailand-confirms-the-reports-of-first-case-of-deadlier-mpox-strain-in-asia-article-151034558" data-type="tilCustomLink">measles-rubella campaign</a>. 

The latest campaign also comes after measles gained global attention after several countries, including the United States and parts of Europe, reported outbreaks this year driven by falling childhood vaccination rates.

The United States has reported 2,371 in 2026m according to the latest data from the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/13-5-million-children-remain-zero-dose-in-2025-despite-global-vaccination-gains-un-report-article-155104143" data-type="tilCustomLink">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC). Among these cases: 

<ul><li>20% of cases are in children under 5; 49% are in those 5–19 years.</li><li>7% of patients have been hospitalized, compared with 11% in 2025.</li><li>No deaths have been reported.</li><li>93% of cases are in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.</li></ul>

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The Philippines has launched a fresh measles-rubella vaccination campaign in Eastern Visayas, aiming to vaccinate more than 445,000 children aged six to 59 months. The intensified Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) will run from August 10 to 28, with support from local governments, schools, community health workers and barangay officials. The campaign comes as the country continues to recover from years of declining routine childhood immunisation, which left thousands of children at risk to vaccine-preventable diseases."Knowing that our past accomplishments in the country are not that high, the Department of Health decided to have an additional layer of protection for our children by coming up with the Measles-Rubella Immunization Activity," said Dr Exuperia Sabalberino, Regional Director of the Department of Health Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development. According to the Department of Health (DOH), Leyte accounts for the largest target population, with more than 152,000 eligible children, while Biliran has the smallest. Children under five years of age will be offered the vaccine regardless of their previous vaccination status if they fall within the campaign's eligibility criteria. About The CampaignHealth authorities have been race to close immunity gaps and prevent new outbreaks of the highly contagious disease.The latest push follows concerns over low routine immunisation coverage in several Philippine regions. During the 2023 MR-SIA campaign, Eastern Visayas achieved only 72.6% vaccination coverage, well below the level needed to maintain herd immunity. Health officials warn that insufficient coverage increases the risk of measles and rubella outbreaks. "Vaccination is an extra layer of protection and also prevents outbreaks, as measles and rubella are highly contagious because one confirmed case can affect 12 to 18 people, especially those who are vulnerable and immunocompromised," said Chiradee R. Claridad, DOH-8 National Immunization Program Coordinator. Also read: US Measles Cases Reach 2,371; RFK Jr Takes U-Turn, Urges Families to Vaccinate KidsMeasles Remains A Global ConcernMeasles is among the world's most infectious viral diseases, spreading through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can lead to serious complications including pneumonia, brain inflammation, blindness and death, particularly in young children. Rubella is generally milder but can cause severe birth defects if a pregnant woman becomes infected.The Philippines has experienced several major measles outbreaks in recent years, including the nationwide resurgence in 2019 and the Bangsamoro outbreak in 2024, both linked to poor vaccination coverage.       The Philippines has already made progress in recent months. Last month, the DOH announced that over one million children in Metro Manila had been vaccinated, achieving 87.1% coverage under the measles-rubella campaign. The latest campaign also comes after measles gained global attention after several countries, including the United States and parts of Europe, reported outbreaks this year driven by falling childhood vaccination rates.The United States has reported 2,371 in 2026m according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among these cases: 20% of cases are in children under 5; 49% are in those 5–19 years.7% of patients have been hospitalized, compared with 11% in 2025.No deaths have been reported.93% of cases are in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

philippines launches measles-rubella vaccination drive targeting 445,000 children

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Philippines Launches Measles-Rubella Vaccination Drive Targeting 445,000 Children

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Philippines Launches Measles-Rubella Vaccination Drive Targeting 445,000 Children

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