The Department of Health (DOH) is stepping up its routine immunization program as vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly measles, continue to surge. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa reaffirmed this commitment following a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) about declining vaccine coverage and public trust in the Western Pacific.
From January 1 to May 10, the DOH reported 2,118 measles-rubella (MR) cases—an 8% increase from the same period in 2024. The National Capital Region (NCR) led with 642 cases, followed by Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Central Luzon, and the Zamboanga Peninsula. While the case fatality rate slightly dropped to 0.42% from last year’s 0.46%, the trend remains concerning.
Focused Response in BARMM Yields Promising Results
At President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instruction, the DOH launched a large-scale immunization drive in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to contain a local measles outbreak. The campaign vaccinated over 1.2 million individuals. As a result, MR cases in BARMM dropped significantly—from 1,179 cases in 2024 to just 121 this year.
“This kind of targeted vaccination effort is what we must replicate as part of our regular health services,” Herbosa said.
Catch-Up Campaigns Show Potential, But Coverage Still Low
While the DOH saw success in controlling the 2024 pertussis outbreak—cutting cases by more than 90%—routine immunization rates remain well below the WHO’s 95% target. As of February 2025, only 64.85% of Filipino children were fully immunized before their first birthday.
To close this gap, the DOH continues to implement Catch-up and School-Based Vaccination programs, reaching 3.8 million students nationwide. In NCR alone, the “Bakuna BayaniJuan” campaign vaccinated nearly 1.8 million people over one month.
“We’ve shown we can respond to outbreaks effectively,” Herbosa said. “Now, we must apply the same urgency to routine immunization,” he added.
