The Department of Health is targeting nearly three million children in Mindanao for the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity, aiming to vaccinate 2.8 million children aged 6 to 59 months. According to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Mindanao was chosen for Phase 1 of the campaign due to its high number of measles cases, with 2,172 out of 5,159 nationwide cases in 2025 originating from the region. Herbosa attributed the high cases to the large number of unvaccinated children in Mindanao, stating that the region has many measles cases because many kids are unvaccinated. The DOH launched Phase 1 of the MR-SIA on January 19, 2026, which will run until February 13, 2026.
