DOH Targets 445,961 Kids in Eastern Visayas Measles-Rubella Drive

Posted on August 13, 2026 at 10:17 am

Tacloban City — The Department of Health is targeting 445,961 children aged 6 to 59 months in Eastern Visayas for a measles-rubella vaccination campaign running from Aug. 10 to 28.

Children can receive the vaccine even if they have been vaccinated before.

DOH Eastern Visayas Director Exuperia Sabalberino said the department wants to reach all eligible children listed in its records, including those who may have missed routine vaccination.

“We intend to cover all eligible children based on our actual master list,” Sabalberino said during a media interview.

The campaign is being carried out with local government units and other government agencies to help health workers reach children in their communities.

Leyte has the largest target, with 152,055 children. It is followed by Samar with 80,304 and Northern Samar with 66,396.

The other targets are 44,461 in Eastern Samar, 36,409 in Southern Leyte, 25,511 in Tacloban City, 23,701 in Ormoc City and 17,124 in Biliran.

Children will also receive Vitamin A supplementation as part of the campaign.

Sabalberino said Eastern Visayas is now in Phase 3 of the nationwide supplemental immunization campaign.

DOH-Eastern Visayas National Immunization Program Manager Chiradee Claridad said the region has enough vaccine stocks for the campaign.

“We have 850,000 doses of measles-rubella vaccines available in the region,” Claridad said.

She said regular childhood immunization will continue after the August campaign until the end of the year.

The DOH is asking parents and caregivers to bring children aged 6 to 59 months to the nearest health center during the campaign.

Parents can also ask their midwife or barangay health worker about vaccination schedules in their communities.

Health officials said the measles-rubella vaccine remains the main protection against the two diseases and their possible complications.

For parents who are unsure whether their child needs the supplemental vaccine, health workers can check the child’s vaccination record and advise them on what to do.

The DOH said the goal is to reach children who may have been missed during regular vaccination and give them added protection against measles and rubella.

After the supplemental campaign ends on Aug. 28, routine immunization services will continue in health centers across the region.

Photo courtesy: DOH8