OVER a million children in the National Capital Region (NCR) have been vaccinated for measles and rubella, representing 87.1 percent of Filipino children, the Department of Health said.
At the June 30 culmination of its Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA), 1,045,889 of the targeted 1,200,428 children aged 6 to 59 months received the vaccine, which the DOH said is “an important step in protecting young children from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
The total number also includes 6,100 children whose vaccinations were initially deferred or declined but who were eventually vaccinated, reflecting the success of continued engagement with parents and communities.
The DOH said that eight of Metro Manila’s 17 cities surpassed the 95 percent coverage target needed to provide strong community protection against measles.
These are the cities of Parañaque, Makati, Manila, Pasay, Navotas, Mandaluyong, Pasig, and Quezon City, which recorded the highest number of vaccinated children at 262,720.
At the community level, 64 percent of the 1,715 villages in Metro Manila, or 1,095 villages, also reached the 95 percent vaccination coverage, helping strengthen protection against measles outbreaks.
Despite the encouraging results, the DOH reminded parents that vaccination should not stop with special campaigns, noting that routine childhood immunization remains the best way to ensure children are fully protected as they grow.
As of May 2026, the National Capital Region continues to lead all regions in routine measles-rubella vaccination, recording 32.22 percent coverage for the first dose, or MMR1, and 32.57 percent for the second dose, or MMR2.
The cities of Makati, Quezon City, and Pasig each achieved at least 40 percent coverage, among the highest in the country, but are still below the regional target of 54 percent for May.
The DOH encouraged parents and guardians whose children may have missed their routine immunization schedule to visit their nearest health center, noting that the vaccines provided through the government’s National Immunization Program are safe, effective and available free of charge.
“Every child who gets vaccinated is one more child protected from serious illness. We thank all parents, local government units, health care workers, and community volunteers who helped make this campaign a success. At the same time, we encourage families whose children have not yet completed their routine vaccinations to visit their health centers so we can continue building stronger protection for every community,” the DOH said.