SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — As typhoons and severe weather continue to threaten communities across the Philippines, health authorities are urging parents not to let disrupted access to medical services become another risk for young children.
The Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Center for Health Development is calling on parents and caregivers to have children aged 6 to 59 months vaccinated against measles and rubella through the government’s Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA).
The appeal comes as health officials work to reach eligible children despite challenges posed by distance, bad weather and possible interruptions to health services.
According to the Philippine Information Agency, DOH Ilocos Regional Director Helen Tobias has been monitoring vaccination sites and coordinating with health workers to address difficulties in delivering vaccines during the typhoon season.
“We need to give every child the protection they need to safeguard their health and future,” Tobias said.
Why typhoon season matters
Typhoons do not directly cause measles or rubella. The concern is that severe weather can interrupt access to health facilities, delay vaccination activities and make it harder for families in remote communities to reach health workers.
The DOH is therefore encouraging families to coordinate with their barangay health workers, local health offices and designated vaccination sites before weather conditions become hazardous.
Health workers have likewise been reminded to prioritize their safety and follow disaster-response protocols when storms make vaccination activities unsafe. Activities may need to be adjusted depending on local weather conditions.
Measles cases remain a warning sign
The vaccination push comes against the backdrop of continuing measles and rubella concerns nationwide.
Philippine News Agency reported in April that the DOH recorded 1,627 measles-rubella cases from January 4 to March 21, 2026, up 45 percent from the 1,121 cases recorded during the same period in 2025.
Around 68 percent of those cases were among unvaccinated individuals, while national MR vaccination coverage was reported at about 66 percent at the time, leaving hundreds of thousands of children without adequate protection.
The numbers underscore why health officials continue to push vaccination even as the country deals with other emergencies and seasonal hazards.
WHO: Thousands of Filipino children were affected by measles in 2025
The World Health Organization has also highlighted the Philippines’ continuing measles challenge.
According to WHO, the country recorded more than 5,000 measles cases in 2025, prompting the government and health partners to strengthen the nationwide Ligtas Tigdas measles-rubella supplementary immunization campaign.
WHO, UNICEF, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners have supported efforts to reach children, particularly those in geographically isolated and hard-to-reach communities.
The experience in Zamboanga del Norte showed how health teams have adapted vaccination delivery by establishing temporary fixed vaccination sites in communities, including areas where geography makes access difficult.
The vaccination campaign is nationwide
The Ilocos campaign is part of a broader national effort.
In June, The Philippine Star reported that the DOH launched another phase of its measles-rubella vaccination program targeting about 1.2 million children in Metro Manila. Local governments established additional vaccination sites to make the campaign more accessible.
Meanwhile, DOH regional offices have continued expanding access to vaccination sites.
In July, DOH-CAR said it was targeting approximately 150,816 children aged 6 to 59 months for measles-rubella vaccination from August 10 to 28.
In MIMAROPA, health officials also announced the opening of additional community-based vaccination sites for the August 10–28 campaign, including locations such as barangay health stations, schools, covered courts and other community facilities.
Parents are being urged not to wait
The DOH’s message is straightforward: parents should check whether their children are eligible for the supplemental vaccination and coordinate with their local health workers.
Families whose vaccination schedules are affected by severe weather should contact their barangay health workers or local health offices for updated schedules and the nearest available vaccination site.
The reminder is particularly important for families in communities that can become isolated during prolonged rains, flooding, landslides or strong winds.
Why measles and rubella should not be taken lightly
Measles is among the world’s most contagious infectious diseases. It can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and, in severe cases, death.
Rubella is especially concerning during pregnancy because infection can result in congenital rubella syndrome and serious birth defects.
Health officials therefore continue to emphasize vaccination as a key tool for preventing transmission and protecting vulnerable children and communities.
The DOH has repeatedly reassured the public that measles-rubella vaccination is safe and effective. During the national campaign earlier this year, Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa described vaccination as one of the most reliable public-health interventions for preventing outbreaks.
The bigger challenge: reaching every child
The problem is no longer simply whether vaccines exist.
The challenge is making sure every eligible child can actually receive them.
WHO’s 2026 reporting on immunization in the Western Pacific warned that progress remains uneven, with many children still missing life-saving vaccines because of access barriers and other challenges.
For the Philippines, that means vaccination efforts must continue reaching children in urban communities as well as those living in remote and disaster-prone areas.
As typhoon season intensifies, the DOH is asking parents to act when vaccination services are available—and to coordinate with local health workers when weather conditions disrupt scheduled activities.
The storm may delay a vaccination schedule, but health officials are warning families not to let that delay become a missed opportunity to protect their children.
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