MANILA: The Department of Health (DOH) has vaccinated 646,840 children against measles in the country as of April 10.

In a media briefing on Thursday, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa noted the figure translates to 47 percent of 1,381,540 million Filipino children who are eligible for vaccination against measles.

“The eligible population is 6 months to 9 years old. We increased the number because the BARMM [Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao], for a long time already, there are children who have grown up unvaccinated,” Herbosa said.

Of those vaccinated, 91,309 were six to 23 months old; 205,234 were two years old and below five years old; and 350,337 were five to nine years old.

Meanwhile, only three children experienced adverse effects — fever and vomiting — following vaccination.

The DOH immunization campaign in the BARMM was put on hold on April 10, in celebration of Eid al-Fitr. It resumed on April 11.

The DOH has logged about 2,500 cases of measles nationwide, with 1,600 of which coming
from the BARMM as many eligible children there remain unvaccinated against the disease.

On Wednesday, Herbosa said he cannot declare an outbreak nationwide because vaccination rates are high in other places.

He said the DOH aims to end the measles outbreak in the BARMM in four to six weeks.

Nationally, the DOH aims to vaccinate 90 percent of children ages six months to 10 years to control cases of measles.

Measles is a contagious disease that spreads in the air through coughing or sneezing. While it is more common among all children, it affects all age groups.

Source: Philippines News Agency