THE Department of Health’s (DOH) Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) plans to vaccinate over a million children in the National Capital Region (NCR) against measles and rubella.
On Monday, the agency launched its “ligtas tigdas” (safe from measles) campaign in Muntinlupa City, which targets vaccinating about 1,200,428 kids below 5 years old to boost their immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases, especially as measles cases rise in some areas of the country.
The campaign started in Mindanao earlier this year, where the DOH noted an increase in measles-rubella cases due to the high number of zero-dose children — those who are not fully immunized — and vaccine hesitancy.
Vaccinations will be administered at designated vaccination posts in various cities and municipalities in the region.
The posts include health centers, village vaccination sites, hospitals, schools, and other accessible locations identified by local governments.
According to MMCHD Regional Director Lester Tan, the campaign is a crucial step to boost children’s immunity, especially amid the persistent threat of measles in some areas of the country.
“Measles is not a simple illness. It can cause severe complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, blindness, and even death, particularly among unvaccinated children.
Through the Ligtas Tigdas Campaign, we want to ensure that every Filipino child is adequately protected against this disease,” Tan said.
In addition to vaccinations, the campaign will provide vitamin A supplementation to further enhance children’s overall health.
The MMCHD is also strengthening its information drive and community engagement efforts to encourage more parents to have their children vaccinated.
To address vaccine hesitancy, the agency has called on parents and guardians, especially those who may still have doubts about immunization, to join the campaign and prioritize their children’s health and safety.
“We urge all parents to bring their children to the nearest vaccination post. This is not just about protecting individual children, but also about safeguarding entire communities,” Tan said.