DOH intensifies vaccine effort amid rising measles numbers

The Department of Health (DOH) eyes a tigdas-free 2026 as cases continue to surge.

At the start of the new year, the DOH is set to launch the nationwide “Ligtas-Tigdas” vaccination program to combat the deadly threats of measles (tigdas) and rubella (tigdas hangin) which continue to plague children, especially those aged 5 years and below.

Through the vaccination drive, the agency plans to target about 11 million children in the country: 5.6 million in Luzon, 2.8 million in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and 1.9 million in Visayas. 

The first phase of the campaign is set to begin from January 19 to February 13 in Mindanao and BARMM, while the second phase is planned to commence by June in Luzon and Visayas.

In 2025, DOH recorded a total of 4,843 cases of measles-rubella in the Philippines, with 3,511 of these cases being unvaccinated. The data also showed three regions with the highest recorded number of cases, the National Capital Region with 1,027, the Bangsamoro Region with 768, and Calabarzon with 505.

DOH advises parents and guardians to accompany eligible children to the nearest health facilities and vaccination sites once the program begins in their area.

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