The Department of Health (DOH) has extended the measles-rubella supplemental immunization activity in Mindanao until Friday, February 20, 2026, to achieve the 95 percent herd immunity target.

The vaccination driver was supposed to end on Friday, February 13, 2026, but DOH extended it for another week to vaccinate more children and meet the target number of beneficiaries.

According to DOH-SOCCSKSARGEN (DOH-12), since the vaccination campaign began on January 19, 2026, about 81 percent or more than 2.3 million children six months to 59 months old have already been vaccinated against measles and rubella, as of 6:14 a.m. on February 16.

However, more than 550,000 children have yet to receive the vaccine.

“Extension ito ng buong Mindanao. Bakit kailangan natin ng 95%, It’s scientifically-proven, and based on study, yung 95% talaga ang kailangang magkaroon ng herd immunity. Kumbaga, ito yung sapat na data mayroon ang isang lugar na kapag may 95% na vaccinated, yung natitirang 5% talagang hindi nabakunahan, mapoprotektahan na po ng 95%,” DOH-12 Health Education and Information Officer, Lea Dominguez Reformado, said.

To speed up the vaccination rollout, DOH personnel have started conducting house-to-house visits to reach children who were deferred during the scheduled immunization.

“Nagbabahay-bahay na rin kami pero depende kasi, kumbaga yung pagbahay-bahay natin we’re going back sa mga deferred. Yung hindi pa pwedeng bakunahan during the day na magpapabakuna, it’s either may nararamdaman yung bata or hindi siya. kumbaga, yung exclusion criteria natin na tinatawag, hindi siya pwedeng pabakunahan, pagagalingin  muna yun katulad ng mga nag-antibiotic na maga bata, o nabakunahan ng mga anti-rabies. May certain days kasi bago babakunahan, so hahabulin natin yung mga yon,” Reformado added.

DOH continues to urge parents and guardians to have their children vaccinated while vaccines are still available.

DOH added that unused vaccines from Mindanao rollout will be turned over for the next phase of the program to be conducted in Luzon and Visayas.

Health authorities assured the public that the measles-rubella vaccine is safe and effective.