DOH: 1 million children in BARMM now vaccinated vs measles

At least one million children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have received the vaccine against measles, weeks after the Department of Health (DOH) launched an immunization drive to curb the measles outbreak in the region. 

In a public briefing on Tuesday, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said that the DOH is close to reaching its 1.3 million target under the vaccination drive.

“1.0 million na out of 1.3 million [ang nabakunahan]. Hindi tayo titigil diyan. Aabutin natin at lalagpasan pa natin ang 1.3 million target,” Domingo said as he acknowledged the efforts of the Bangsamoro Ministry of Health. 

(At least 1.0 million out of 1.3 million children have been vaccinated. We will not stop there. We will reach and surpass the 1.3 million target.) 

As of April 13, the DOH said that a total of 1,817 measles cases had been recorded nationwide since the year started. 

This was about five times higher than the cases logged in the same period in 2023. 

Forty-eight of these cases came from BARMM alone, while 8% were reported in Central Luzon. 

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier expressed hope that the measles outbreak in BARMM will be controlled in four to six weeks as the DOH ramps up the vaccination of children in the region against the highly contagious disease.

The DOH aims to cover at least 90% of the high-risk population, with a focus on children between the ages of six months and ten years.

Measles is a contagious disease that spreads from infected individuals through the air, especially through coughing or sneezing. It affects all age groups but is more common in children.

Its symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a body rash.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News