DOH probes cause of vaccinated girl's death in Sultan Kudarat

The Department of Health (DOH) is investigating the cause of death of a 2-year-old girl in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, who passed away after being inoculated with the measles-rubella vaccine that the agency maintains is safe and effective in saving lives.

In a statement to GMA News Online, DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Albert Domingo said the Health Department's regional, provincial, and municipal epidemiology units are "currently conducting a thorough investigation" to determine the circumstances surrounding the girl's case.

"While no definitive cause of death has been established at this time, the scientific process of causality assessment is now underway," the statement read.

"The Department of Health (DOH) is coordinating with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Sultan Kudarat regarding one (1) reported death in the past few days, coinciding with a vaccination campaign. DOH and the PHO are one with the family in grieving the tragic passing of the 2-year-old female child on February 4, 2026," it added.

According to a report by GMA Regional TV News, the victim's mother said her daughter died after receiving vaccination during the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity in Palimbang.

She said a health worker visited their community in Barangay Milbuk and administered the vaccine to her child.

However, an hour after vaccination, the child allegedly started vomiting, suffered from diarrhea, and showed signs of weakness and dehydration. The child also reportedly developed discoloration of her body and nails.

The mother has blamed the vaccine for her daughter's death.

The report quoted the Sultan Kudarat provincial health office as saying that it has yet to establish if the vaccine was the cause of death, adding that epidemiology units were investigating the matter.

Vaccine safety

Meanwhile, the DOH extended "full moral support" and expressed readiness to provide mental health and psychosocial services to the family. It likewise acknowledged assistance provided by the Palimbang municipal government to the grieving family.

While the probe is underway, Domingo called on the public to avoid sharing false claims or speculation on social media.

"Misinformation kills. Please rely only on official updates from verified channels of the Department, the PHO, and local government units," Domingo said.

"Measles-Rubella vaccines are proven safe and effective. These vaccines have saved millions of children around the world from severe complications and death," he added.

The DOH's nationwide Ligtas Tigdas program kicked off on January 19 in General Santos City, targeting to protect children aged six months to 59 months from measles (tigdas) and rubella (tigdas hangin).

GMA Regional TV News cited data from DOH SOCCSKSARGEN, which showed that 318,396 children in the region have been vaccinated under the program as of February 6, 2026.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa earlier vouched for the vaccine's safety, saying it had been used since the 1960s.

The Sultan Kudarat PHO likewise said the vaccine has been used globally for decades to protect children from life-threatening diseases. — VDV, GMA Integrated News