The Department of Health (DOH) is launching a major public health initiative to combat measles and rubella, starting with a focused campaign in Mindanao. The first phase of the "Ligtas Tigdas: Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity" is scheduled to begin on January 19, 2026.
Massive Immunization Targets Across the Philippines
In an announcement made via social media, the health department revealed the ambitious scope of the campaign. The initial phase in Mindanao aims to reach nearly three million children between the ages of six months and five years old. The DOH stated the campaign's goal is to provide protection against both measles (tigdas) and rubella, also known as German measles (tigdas-hangin).
The overall national target is significantly larger. The DOH plans to immunize a total of 10.3 million children across the entire archipelago. The breakdown includes 5.6 million children in Luzon and 1.9 million in the Visayas, following the Mindanao rollout.
Addressing a Persistent Public Health Threat
This urgent immunization drive responds to ongoing case numbers. As of December 6, 2025, the DOH had recorded 4,843 cases of measles-rubella nationwide. The data indicates concerning hotspots, with the National Capital Region reporting the highest number at 1,027 cases.
Other regions with significant outbreaks include the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 768 cases and Calabarzon with 505 cases. These figures underscore the critical need for the supplemental vaccination activity to boost population immunity and prevent further outbreaks.
A Call to Action for Parents and Guardians
The "Ligtas Tigdas" campaign represents a proactive effort by health authorities to safeguard the nation's youngest and most vulnerable citizens. The DOH is urging parents and guardians in Mindanao, and later across Luzon and the Visayas, to participate in this crucial public health effort. Vaccination remains the most effective defense against these highly contagious and potentially dangerous diseases.
Health volunteers and workers, reminiscent of past mobilization efforts seen in communities, are preparing to facilitate the wide-reaching campaign to ensure as many eligible children as possible receive protection.
