Measles outbreak likely in 2023 if vax coverage remains low – DOH

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the officer in charge of the Department of Health (File photo by the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may face a measles outbreak by 2023 if the vaccination coverage of children does not improve, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the officer in charge of the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.

“There might be an impending outbreak of measles in the country by next year if we are not going to do anything,” Vergeire also said in a press briefing.

She added that the Philippines was flagged by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) since three million children nationwide remained unvaccinated against measles.

In response, the DOH met with its implementing units to strengthen routine immunization.

In 2019, the DOH declared a measles outbreak in Metro Manila and other regions.

Then-Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the rise in infections that time was caused by vaccine hesitancy triggered by the Dengvaxia scare during the administration of Benigno Aquino III.

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