Measles and rubella cases in the country climbed by 32 percent over the past year, with more than 5,000 infections recorded, 73 percent of whom were unvaccinated, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday, Jan. 16.

DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said 5,159 cases were logged from Jan. 1, 2025 to Jan. 3, 2026, compared with 3,901 cases in 2024.

“Alam po ba ninyo ang bilang ng ating measles and rubella cases simula January 1, 2025 hanggang January 3, 2026 ay umabot po sa 5,159? Iyan po ay mas mataas ng 32 porsiyento kumpara sa 3,901 na naitala noong 2024 (Do you know that the number of measles and rubella cases from January 1, 2025 to January 3, 2026 reached 5,159? That is 32 percent higher compared to the 3,901 recorded in 2024),” he said in an interview with state-controlled PTV-4.

“At namumukod-tanging datos dito, iyong 73 percent sa kanila, hindi bakunado (And a striking data point here is that 73 percent of them were not vaccinated),” he underscored.

Domingo said the DOH will prioritize Mindanao in its initial measles and rubella vaccination drive, citing data showing that most regions with the highest number of cases are located there.

“Saan ba ang pinakamarami at bakit natin uunahin iyong Mindanao sa January 19, sa darating na Lunes, dahil po, iyong mga rehiyon na pinakamataas iyong hawaan ng measles at rubella… Ito po ang Region IV-B, ang MIMAROPA, sumunod ang Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), Region X (Northern Mindanao), Region XII at saka ang BARMM… Kapag nakita natin diyan, dalawa lamang iyong wala sa Mindanao (Where are the cases highest and why are we prioritizing Mindanao on January 19, this coming Monday—it is because the regions with the highest measles and rubella transmission include Region IV-B or MIMAROPA, followed by Region IX, Region X, Region XII, BARMM, and the National Capital Region. Of these, only two are outside Mindanao),” he said.

Meanwhile, the agency clarified that being in a high-case region does not automatically mean infection.

“Pero huwag pong kabahan, hindi ibig sabihin, kapag nandoon kayo sa rehiyon na ito ay mahahawa kaagad (But please do not panic, being in these regions does not mean you will automatically be infected),” said Domingo.

The DOH said the timing of the rollout in Mindanao also takes into account the upcoming Ramadan season, which begins on Feb. 17.

“Ayaw po nating istorbohin ang ating mga kababayang Muslim habang sila po ay pagninilay sa panahon ng Ramadan, so mas maganda po na ating mabakunahan na ang mga tsikiting sa panahon na ito from six months up to 59 months (We do not want to disrupt our Muslim brothers and sisters during their period of reflection in Ramadan, so it is better to vaccinate children at this time, from six months up to 59 months old),” he said.

Domingo said the DOH will implement a second phase of its measles and rubella supplemental immunization activity (MRSIA) in Luzon and the Visayas later this year.

“Now, iyong sa ating MRSIA para sa Visayas at sa Luzon, mangyayari po iyan mga bandang Hunyo sa taong ito, pero tuloy-tuloy po ang ating routine immunization (The MRSIA for the Visayas and Luzon will happen around June this year, but our routine immunization continues),” he said.