LGUs told to vaccinate kids vs. measles-rubella, tetanus-diphtheria

The national government on Thursday endorsed to local government units to conduct routine and catch-up inoculation versus measles-rubella and tetanus-diphtheria (MR-Td).

In a statement, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that the immunization program would exempt children from lockdown restrictions.

"Because of this, children less than 2 years old, 6-7 years old, and 12-13 years old shall be exempt from community quarantine restrictions for this purpose," said Roque.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases urged LGUs to speed up MR-Td vaccination program by dedicating Wednesdays for child vaccination, Roque also said.

LGUs may also shift health care workers from COVID-19 vaccination targets on said day for the MR-Td immunization program.

In January, the Department of Health said its nationwide vaccination against measles and polio was at 89%.

As of Sept. 27, fully vaccinated Filipinos against COVID-19 reached 20.3 million, which is only 26.33% of the country's population. -NB, GMA News