MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) plans to increase vaccinations following a 541 increase in measles and rubella cases during the first two months of 2023, attributed to a backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DOH is set to conduct a supplemental immunization activity starting in May to address the vaccination gap and vaccinate all missed children susceptible to measles.
“Itong missed children, babalikan natin sila sa kanilang bahay para mabakunahan natin silang lahat, hindi lang yung may schedule, maari na rin nating bakunahan yung mga batang nakamiss ng kanilang dose last year or the previous year, babalikan natin sila lahat, para lahat protektado against measles.”
Officer-in-charge (OIC) Maria Rosario Vergeire
(These missed children, we will return to their houses so we can vaccinate all of them, even those without a schedule; we can go back to them to vaccinate the kids who missed their dose last year or the previous year. We will return to them all to protect everyone against measles).
The DOH OIC has not yet disclosed how many children will be vaccinated, but they plan to vaccinate children between the ages of two and four.
Measles is an airborne disease, and children are particularly vulnerable to it. The DOH aims to ensure that everyone is protected against measles.