THE Department of Health (DOH) said it targets to vaccinate 11 million children in its Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR SIA) or Ligtas-Tigdas Vaccination slated this month.
According to the DOH, measles (tigdas) and rubella (tigdas hangin) are highly infectious which may lead to complications especially for children aged five or younger.
It was learned that in the Ligtas Tigdas this January, the ordinary vaccination against measles for kids aged 9 to 12 months will now cover those aged 6 up to 59 months old, or those five years old and younger, regardless of their vaccination status.
“Itinatayang halos 11 milyong bata ang mababakunahan sa buong bansa. Ang Phase 1 ng Ligtas Tigdas ay isasagawa sa Mindanao at Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) sa darating na Enero 19 hanggang Pebrero 13, 2026 kung kailan target nilang mabigyan ng bakuna ang 2.8 milyong bata,” the DOH stated.
The Phase 2 of the program in Luzon and Visayas will be held from June 2026 and those targeted for vaccination are about 5.6 million children from Luzon and 1.9 million from Visayas.
Previously, the DOH assured that the vaccines to be used for the said mass vaccination are ready and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa himself led the inspection of the said vaccines.
