DOH Launches Intensive Vaccination Campaign to Combat Measles Outbreak
In response to a concerning surge in measles cases across the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) has initiated a robust vaccination campaign aimed at immunizing more Filipinos against the highly contagious disease.
Secretary of Health Teodoro J. Herbosa, addressing the Task Force El Niño, revealed that the DOH is intensifying efforts to curb the spread of measles by setting up a national DOH Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) on March 13. The PHEOC, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the United States Center for Disease Control (USCDC), is overseeing response activities on the ground.
Secretary Herbosa emphasized that the DOH's strategy includes widespread vaccination targeting at least 90% of the high-risk population, particularly children aged 6 months to 10 years. A non-selective Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI) strategy is also being implemented in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), alongside other supplementary measures.
Furthermore, Secretary Herbosa stressed the importance of routine immunizations, highlighting the availability of free vaccines such as pentavalent Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza type B (DPT-HepB-HiB), as well as Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccines at local health centers.
In addition to vaccination, the public is urged to adhere to respiratory precautions adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the voluntary use of masks, staying home when sick, frequent handwashing, and choosing well-ventilated spaces.
The urgency of vaccination campaigns has been underscored by global health organizations like the WHO and UNICEF, as demonstrated by a drastic rise in measles cases in Europe in 2023, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. The Philippines has also experienced disruptions in routine immunization, leading to a significant increase in pertussis cases in 2024 compared to previous years.
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial infection characterized by symptoms similar to influenza. Its resurgence highlights the critical importance of vaccination in preventing infectious diseases.
As of February 24, 2024, the DOH has recorded a total of 569 measles and rubella cases, with children under five years old and unvaccinated individuals being the most affected. The DOH emphasizes that vaccination remains the most effective way to protect against measles and other preventable diseases, urging the public to participate actively in the ongoing vaccination drive to safeguard public health.