By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) has begun an early rollout of its 2026 Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) in Pangasinan, vaccinating hundreds of children ahead of the region-wide campaign aimed at preventing outbreaks of the highly contagious diseases.
More than 220 children aged six to 59 months received free measles-rubella vaccines during the ceremonial launch held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, serving as the opening activity before the full-scale immunization drive scheduled from Aug. 10 to 28 across Region 1.
The initial vaccination campaign covered six pilot barangays—Mariboc, Poblacion, Tonton, Libsong East, Libsong West, and Pangapisan North—as health authorities intensified efforts to raise community immunity against measles and rubella.
The kickoff was led by Department of Health Assistant Secretary Maylene M. Beltran and DOH Ilocos Regional Director Helen D. Tobias, together with officials of the Pangasinan provincial government, Provincial Health Office, and local government units.
Beltran urged parents and guardians to have their young children vaccinated, emphasizing that immunization remains the country’s strongest defense against vaccine-preventable diseases.
She assured the public that the measles-rubella vaccine has undergone stringent safety and quality evaluations and is both safe and effective.
Beltran warned that maintaining high vaccination coverage is critical to preventing the return of measles, a highly infectious disease that can result in life-threatening complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, permanent disability, and death, particularly among young children.
For her part, Tobias called for the full cooperation of local government units, national agencies, schools, barangay officials, healthcare workers, civil society organizations, faith-based groups, and private sector partners to ensure that every eligible child is reached during the two-week campaign.
She stressed that preventing outbreaks requires a united effort from communities and government institutions alike, noting that widespread immunization not only saves lives but also strengthens public health resilience throughout the Ilocos Region.
Tobias likewise appealed to parents and caregivers not to delay vaccination, warning that every child who remains unvaccinated continues to face the risk of contracting measles and rubella.
Under the MR-SIA, all children aged six to 59 months are eligible for vaccination regardless of their previous immunization history, as the campaign seeks to rapidly boost population immunity and curb the spread of the diseases.
Vaccination teams will be stationed in barangay health stations, rural health units, schools, daycare centers, and temporary vaccination sites to make the free vaccines more accessible throughout the campaign period.
Aside from Pangasinan, similar launching activities are scheduled this week in Bauang and Agoo in La Union, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, and Candon City in Ilocos Sur in preparation for the synchronized regional rollout beginning Aug. 10.
The Department of Health reiterated that the measles-rubella vaccine is provided free of charge under the government’s Universal Health Care program and encouraged all parents to take advantage of the nationwide immunization effort to protect their children from preventable diseases.
ia/xf
