The Department of Health (DOH) is launching a major immunization effort at the start of the new year to combat a worrying rise in measles and rubella cases across the Philippines.
Ligtas-Tigdas Campaign: Schedule and Target
Announced over the weekend, the intensified supplemental vaccination drive, named "Ligtas-Tigdas," will begin its rollout in January 2025. The program is designed to bolster the nation's defense against measles, known as "tigdas," and rubella, or "tigdas hangin." The primary goal is to prevent child fatalities caused by these highly contagious diseases.
The campaign will be executed in two key phases. The first phase will focus on Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), running from January 19 to February 13, 2025. The second phase will then expand the effort to cover Luzon and the Visayas regions in June of the same year.
Addressing a Sharp Rise in Cases
This urgent initiative comes as the DOH reports a significant increase in infections. Provisional data for 2025 shows 4,843 recorded cases of measles-rubella. Alarmingly, 73% of these cases (3,511) involved individuals who were not vaccinated. This figure represents a 29% increase from the 3,748 cases logged throughout the entirety of 2024.
The regions currently bearing the highest burden of cases are:
- National Capital Region (NCR): 1,027 cases
- Bangsamoro Region: 768 cases
- Calabarzon: 505 cases
Who Needs Protection?
The Ligtas-Tigdas campaign will target all children aged six months to five years old. Measles is an airborne disease that spreads easily and can lead to severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. Vaccination remains the safest and most effective shield against these outcomes.
The DOH emphasizes that vaccinations against measles and rubella are available year-round at designated health centers in local communities. Parents and guardians are encouraged to ensure their children's immunization records are complete and to participate in the upcoming campaign to achieve wider community protection.
