Philippines' DOH reports low child immunization as experts warn of outbreaks
The gist
The Philippines' DOH reported 80,702 children fully immunized in June 2026, 3.63% of the projected infant population.
Falling coverage leaves infants exposed to measles and other preventable diseases.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2026DOH reported 80,702 children fully immunized in June 2026 — 3.63% of the projected annual infant population, down from 3.69% in May and below the 7.92% monthly target.
- Sep 2026At a budget appropriations briefing, DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa attributed the low figures to "persistent vaccine hesitancy that is brought by misinformation."
- Sep 12, 2026A DOH Epidemiology Bureau weekly report said 68% of reported measles cases and 26% of rubella cases nationwide from Jan. 4 to Sept. 12 involved unvaccinated individuals.
Key terms
- DOH
- The executive department of the Philippine government responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services for all Filipinos.
- Tdap
- A combination vaccine that protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus using acellular pertussis components.
- vaccine hesitancy
- Delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite their availability and supporting evidence of effectiveness.
Source: Wikipedia