CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 411 measles infections in Northern Mindanao in 2025, an 11% increase from 371 cases in 2024. Health officials warned the situation could worsen in 2026 due to a high rate of unvaccinated children in the region.

The DOH-X said 74% of the patients 2025 turned out to be unvaccinated.

To prevent outbreaks, DOH-Northern Mindanao and local health offices said they will deploy teams to administer Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccines to children aged six to 59 months, Dr. Germaine Labadan said Thursday, January 8.

“There are (measles) outbreaks in various parts of the country because of low (immunization) coverage and that includes our region,” said Labadan, head of the DOH-X Family Health Cluster. 

Only 56.7% of Northern Mindanao’s eligible population received MR shots last year, well below the 95% target for herd immunity.

Cagayan de Oro, a highly urbanized city, had the region’s highest MR coverage at 87.21%, while Bukidnon reached 49.71%. Other provinces and cities in the region fell below half: Misamis Oriental 51.87, Misamis Occidental 52.05, Iligan 52.55, and Camiguin 53.73.

Under this year’s Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA), children will receive booster MR vaccines and Vitamin A supplements. The program runs 21 days, from January 19 to February 13.

“This is open to all eligible, regardless of the immunization status of the child because the vaccine serves as a booster,” Labadan said, adding it includes children who completed the first and second doses. 

“Parents may present the immunization booklet, but it is not necessary because all will be given a new one,” she said.

Giovanni Dael, a nurse at the Cagayan de Oro City Health Office, said local health personnel have been trained for deployment across the city’s 55 Barangay Health Centers. 

MR-SIA will launch in Cagayan de Oro at Barangay Macasandig’s multipurpose court on January 19.

DOH-X Research, Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Emergency Response Unit (RESDRU) recorded 23 measles cases in Cagayan de Oro in 2025, a 58% drop from 55 in 2024. 

Lanao del Norte posted the highest increase, 51%, from 196 to 295 cases, with Sultan Naga Dimaporo reporting 25 infections.

Year-on-year reductions occurred in Misamis Oriental (45 to 21), Iligan (32 to 23), and Camiguin (7 to 4). Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental showed no change, with 23 and 22 cases respectively.

The DOH-X estimates 524,267 children are eligible this year in the region. With 95% coverage, Labadan said measles cases could decline. 

Each vaccination team – composed of a vaccinator, assessor, and recorder – is expected to immunize at least 80 children daily.

Measles is highly contagious, spreading through breathing, coughing, and sneezing. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and rash. Complications can include blindness, encephalitis, diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, and in severe cases, death. Malnourished children are at highest risk.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports 26 out of every 1,000 Filipino children die before age five. Infants are recommended to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, at nine and 12 months.

International health groups say prevention relies on safe, effective, and affordable vaccines, early warning systems, and support for healthcare workers.

“The vaccines that we administer to prevent viral infections such as measles have been proven to be safe, effective and it’s free,” Dr. Tristan Labitad, head of DOH-X’s communication cluster, said.

He said medical workers, many trained during the COVID-19 pandemic, still face challenges convincing parents to immunize children. They will continue to pursue herd immunity and break the cycle of viral infections, he said. – Rappler.com