The nationwide-wide vaccination drive against measles and rubella has kicked off in General Santos City on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa led the launch of “Ligtas Tigdas” Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity at the Lagao Gymnasium.

DOH said while the activity is nationwide, Mindanao was prioritized due to the high number of measles cases.

Health authorities said around 5,000 measles cases were recorded from January 2025 to January 2026, with 42 percent of 2,172 cases came from Mindanao.

“From January of 2025 to January of 2026, isang taon, 5000 (cases), 2,172 (cases) ay sa Mindanao last year or 42% of the cases of measles ay dito para clear lang,” Herbosa said.

DOH said many children in Mindanao remain unvaccinated.

“Inuna natin ang Mindanao, phase 1 dahil ang Mindanao ang pinakamaraming zero dose o hindi nababakunahan.  Pag maraming hindi bakunado, mas mabilis lumabas yung outbreak kasi nagkakahawaan yung mga bata. Walang bakuna,” Herbosa added.

Aside from the vaccine, DOH also administered Vitamin A supplements to boost eye health among children under five years old.

DOH explained that the supplemental immunization activity should be conducted every five years.

Although the last activity was conducted in 2023, the initiative was implemented earlier due to the rising number of measles cases.

“Every five years po ito. Ginagawa ito dahil every year may mga bata na unvaccinated. Yung hindi nabakunahan. So every year, after five years, 80 percent lang ang nababakunahan na mga bata, 20 percent na mga bata walang bakuna. Dagdag yun by next year, another 20 percent, third year, so every five years, pero this time, wala pang five years, pang-apat na taon pa lang namin, ginagawa namin ang supplemental immunization activity, kung hindi aabutan tayo ng maraming measles outbreak, sa taon nato kasi nag-uumpisa,” Herbosa said.

DOH, together with the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and other organizations, aims to achieve at least 95 percent herd immunity.

“Kailangan natin protektahan ang mga bata sa sakit na measles at rubella. So kahit nabakunahan na, seguraduhin natin na kumpleto tayong lahat. Sisiguraduhin  natin lahat ng mga bata na mabigyan ng bata para wala ng sasalihan na sakit,” Herbosa added.

The vaccination drive will run until February 13, 2026.