A woman is seeking justice after her two-year-old daughter allegedly died after getting vaccinated against measles during the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.

According to the mother, a health worker visited their community in Barangay Milbuk and administered the vaccine to her child who was reportedly active prior to the immunization.

However, an hour after vaccination, the child allegedly started vomiting, experiencing diarrhea, and showing signs of weakness and dehydration.

The child also developed discoloration of body and nails.

“Kanang akong anak gakiat kiat, gasayaw-sayaw, kadula-dula pa gani, bago siya nabakunahan. Pag-abot didtu, pagbakuna ana, paghilak sa akong anak, gipatulog pag-abot sa balay. After one hour mibangon lang siya og sige na siyang suka suka, ug libang, ni-ana ko nganong ingun ani man unya naga-lagum ang iyang lawas ba, nya grabe ang iyang suka niya unya na-dehydrate na siya,” the child’s mother, Michelle Jane Oliverio, said.

The mother added that she learned later that other children vaccinated at the same time reportedly experienced similar symptoms and were also rushed to a hospital. However, only her daughter died.

“Karon, abi nako ako lang sir, katong kauban pud diay nako nga tulo ka bata nga nagpa-inject pud same sa oras nga nagpa-inject sir, ato gihapon ang reaction nila ,nagkayagaw na mi kay silingan lang namu sila sir. Gidala pud nila og hospital. Atu gihapon nanglagum, suka, kalibang, gakumbulyson, pero ang akung anak dili ko makaingon nga naa siyay sakit kay bago gani ko nagpa-inject wala gyud siya problem ba as in, walay ubo, walay kalintura, wala gyud, mao tung kampante kong nagpa inject ko sa akung anak,” Oliverio added.

Oliverio blamed the vaccine for the death of her child and is now calling for justice.

“Ang gusto lang gyud naku hustisya para sa akong anak sir gusto Ko tutukan nila ang nahitabo karon, kay dili ko gusto nga masayang ang iyang kinabuhi,” Oliverio said.

In a statement, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) extended its sympathies to the bereaved family and confirmed the child’s death.

However, health officials emphasized that it has not yet been established that the measles-rubella vaccine caused the child’s death.

Personnel from the regional, provincial, and municipal epidemiology units have started investigating the incident.

“The Provincial Health Office of Sutan Kudarat firmly stands that the MR vaccine is proven safe, effective, and has been used globally for decades to protect children from life-threatening diseases,” PHO said.

Even with the incident, the immunization efforts continued.

Based on data from the Department of Health-12, a total of 318,396 children have been vaccinated as of February 6, 2026, which represents 71 percent of the target population of 451,250 children.

In Mindanao, up to 2,137,674 children have been vaccinated, so far, or 75 percent of the total target population of nearly 2.8 million children six to 59 months old.