Cotabato city: The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) health ministry has announced an ambitious plan to vaccinate 577,230 children against measles-rubella. The region-wide immunization drive is set to take place from January 19 to February 13.

According to Philippines News Agency, Dr. Dayan Decampong Sangcopan, the coordinator of the Bangsamoro Immunization Program, shared that vaccinators will conduct home visits across several areas, including Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and the Special Geographic Area. Sangcopan emphasized the readiness of health frontliners and confirmed that all preparations are in place for the upcoming measles-rubella and supplemental immunization activities.

This initiative comes in response to a severe measles outbreak in 2025, during which BARMM reported over 700 cases and approximately 40 child fatalities, predominantly among those who were unvaccinated. On a national scale, the Department of Health recorded 4,718 measles-rubella cases from January to November 2025, with 73 percent of these cases involving unvaccinated individuals.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has assured that 3.3 million vaccine doses are available, with 2.3 million doses already distributed in Mindanao. Dr. Sangcopan has urged parents to cooperate with the immunization drive and allow vaccinators to administer the vaccines to protect their children from potential outbreaks.