The Department of Health (DOH) will launch next month a nationwide supplemental immunization campaign against  measles, rubella, and polio in a bid to prevent possible outbreak of such diseases this year.

The DOH is targeting to immunize 11 million children against measles, rubella, and polio during the one-month vaccination activity, said Dr. Kezia Lorraine Rosario, health promotion unit head of the DOH-Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD).

The nationwide measles, rubella, oral polio vaccine supplemental immunization activity will start on May 1 until May 31, said Dr. Hope Lanika Bautista, medical officer III of the DOH-MMCHD.

“This 2023, there is a risk of an impending polio and measles outbreak. There is also noted increase in cases of rubella. The direction right now is we need to act in order to prevent an outbreak,” said Bautista during a press briefing on Thursday, April 13.

Bautista said that 9,509,585 children aged nine months to 59 months old are eligible to receive the measles-rubella vaccine, while 11,108,115 children aged zero to 59 months old are eligible to receive the oral polio vaccine.

In Metro Manila, the DOH is aiming to administer measles-rubella vaccine to 1,010,783 children aged nine months to 59 months old, while their target for the oral polio vaccine is 1,188,449 children aged zero to 59 months old.

“The activity shall be synchronized and completed within four weeks including rapid convenience monitoring, mop ups for missed children, follow-ups of deferred children and for refusals,” said Bautista.

“It will be held in fixed posts like health centers, barangay health stations, private clinics, or outpatient department of hospitals; in temporary posts or in strategic places that will be assigned by LGUs (local government units); and through house-to-house vaccination,” she added.

Bautista said that this immunization campaign is necessary to protect children against these diseases amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“The number of children who were not vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated increased and continues to increase because of the delays in vaccination brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

The Health official assured the public that the vaccines are safe and effective.

“There is no treatment for polio, rubella, and measles. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent the possibility of an outbreak,” said Bautista.