Mindanao Achieves Major Milestone in Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign
The Department of Health (DOH) has announced a significant public health achievement in Mindanao, with more than 2.2 million children successfully vaccinated against measles and rubella during the ongoing Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR SIA). This large-scale immunization effort aims to protect vulnerable young populations from these preventable diseases.
Vaccination Figures and Regional Performance
From January 19 to February 10, 2026, a total of 2,220,284 children under the age of five received their measles-rubella vaccinations across Mindanao. The DOH confirmed in a social media statement that these children are now shielded against the threats of measles and rubella, highlighting the campaign's effectiveness in building community immunity.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) led the vaccination drive with 484,229 children immunized. Other regions followed closely:
- Zamboanga Peninsula: 433,690 vaccinated children
- Northern Mindanao: 426,692 vaccinated children
- Soccsksargen: 333,472 vaccinated children
- Davao Region: 320,506 vaccinated children
- Caraga: 221,695 vaccinated children
Remaining Challenges and Final Push
Despite this progress, tens of thousands of children remain unvaccinated, prompting the DOH to issue an urgent final appeal to parents and guardians. The Davao Region has the highest number of children yet to be vaccinated at 192,503, followed by:
- Soccsksargen: 117,778 unvaccinated children
- Northern Mindanao: 96,927 unvaccinated children
- BARMM: 93,001 unvaccinated children
- Zamboanga Peninsula: 90,016 unvaccinated children
- Caraga: 47,600 unvaccinated children
The DOH emphasized that protecting children from vaccine-preventable illnesses is a critical public health priority. "The DOH encourages all parents and guardians to have their children vaccinated in order to protect them from the deadly measles-rubella," the department stated, underscoring the importance of completing the immunization drive.
Campaign Timeline and Goals
Phase 1 of the MR SIA runs from January 19 to February 13, 2026, exclusively in Mindanao areas. The DOH has set an ambitious target to vaccinate 2.8 million children during this immunization initiative, meaning approximately 600,000 more children need to be reached in the final days of the campaign.
This comprehensive vaccination effort represents a crucial step in safeguarding Mindanao's youngest residents against serious health threats, with health authorities working diligently to achieve full coverage before the campaign concludes.
