The Department of Health has started a massive vaccination campaign against measles and rubella in Mindanao, targeting 2.8 million children aged six to 59 months old to achieve “herd immunity.” Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa urged parents to have their children vaccinated, citing the benefits of the measles-rubella vaccination in reducing outbreaks, deaths, and hospitalizations among children. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be deadly, with symptoms including high fever, cough, runny nose, and a rash, while rubella is a milder but still highly contagious viral disease that spreads easily through coughing or sneezing. The vaccination campaign, which will last until February 15, aims to achieve a 95% immunization rate against measles and rubella across the country, and also includes administering Vitamin A to children to improve their eye vision. Herbosa assured parents that the vaccines are safe and effective, and that vaccination saves lives, having been used for decades to protect millions of children worldwide from diseases that once claimed numerous lives.
