ILOILO City – Faced with a growing number of suspected measles cases, Iloilo City is set to launch a wide-reaching vaccination campaign this April to protect over 8,000 young children from the potentially deadly disease.
Health officials are moving swiftly after recording 25 measles cases — suspected and confirmed — as of March 20.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through droplets from an infected person’s coughs or sneezes. Early symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by the appearance of a red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), blindness, and even death — especially among young children and the immunocompromised.
The district of Mandurriao posted the highest number with nine cases, including one confirmed infection.
Cases have also been detected in Molo, Lapuz, Arevalo, La Paz, and both Jaro districts.
This heightened alert stems from a confirmed measles case involving a 19-year-old female from Iloilo province who works in the city — an indicator, health authorities say, of possible local transmission.
“Measles is included in our routine child immunization from ages nine months to one year old. We give two doses at nine months and at one year old. However, there are children without complete vaccines. They are what we are going to catch-up,” said Dr. Jennifer Anceno, National Immunization Program coordinator, in a press conference.
Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles. Good hygiene, proper ventilation, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals also help reduce the risk of transmission.
The City Health Office has drawn up an ambitious plan targeting 8,044 children between nine and 59 months old for measles-rubella (MR) catch-up shots. But the scope could expand further.
In areas with detected infections, all children will be given an extra dose regardless of whether they were previously vaccinated.
In safer zones, the focus will be on fully vaccinating children who only received one dose or none at all.
The effort won’t stop with toddlers.
“We will also cover unvaccinated children aged six to seven and 12 to 13 years, as well as adults, depending on vaccine availability,” added CHO nurse Mayette Gabanto.
Anceno also emphasized that the immunization drive is both safe and cost-free, urging parents not to hesitate.
“The vaccines are safe, effective, and free,” she stressed. “We urge them to have their children immunized to prevent complications.”
Vaccines will be administered across the city’s district health centers, with healthcare teams already gearing up for the critical month-long operation./PN