DOH to step up vaccination vs. measles-rubella as PH cases rise in 2025

The Department of Health (DOH) will intensify vaccination efforts against measles (tigdas) and measels-rubella (tigdas hangin) following a 29% rise in nationwide cases of the latter compared to last year.

In a statement on Saturday, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa announced that the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR SIA) will be implemented in two phases next year.

The first phase will be conducted in Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), from January 19, 2026 to February 13, 2026. The second phase, on the other hand, will be done in Luzon and Visayas in June 2026.

The vaccination drive will target for children from 6 months to 5 years old, who are at risk of infection. 

Measels-rubella, also known known as German measles, is a viral contagious disease that is not caused by the same virus as measles (rubeola).

"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.

(Through the Ligtas-Tigdas Vaccination campaign, the department, with the assistance of local government units, will strengthen vaccination efforts against tigdas or measles and tigdas-hangin or rubella to prevent the death of children due to this illness.)

As of December 6 this year, the DOH logged 4,843 cases of measles-rubella across the country, which is 29% higher than 2024's 3,748 cases.

Of the recorded cases, 73% or 3,511 cases were unvaccinated.

Majority of these cases were at the National Capital Region (1,027 cases), BARMM (768 cases) and CALABARZON (505 cases).

"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.

(Vaccination drives in health centers and designated fixed vaccination drives continue even during this holiday season, which is why we are encouraging parents to coordinate with their nearest health centers to vaccinate their children.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News