BACOLOD City — The City Health Office (CHO) is struggling to meet its target for the ongoing Ligtas Tigdas Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign, citing misinformation and negative feedback as among the challenges affecting vaccine uptake.
City Health Officer Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli said initial vaccination results were discouraging, with only a small number of eligible children availing of the free supplemental vaccine despite intensified information and outreach efforts.
“The result is not encouraging. Only a few are availing of the vaccine despite our all-out advocacy efforts and it’s for free,” Gensoli said.
She said health workers have also received negative feedback from some members of the public who may not fully understand the purpose of the campaign.
The CHO is conducting the vaccination campaign from August 10 to 28, 2026, as part of a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Health.
Bacolod is targeting at least 95 percent of the city’s estimated 48,839 children aged 6 to 59 months.
Gensoli explained that the campaign provides a supplemental dose and does not replace routine childhood vaccination.
Even children who have previously received measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines are encouraged to receive the supplemental dose to strengthen their protection against measles.
She assured parents that the vaccines are administered to protect children and said the government would not provide vaccines if they were considered unsafe.
Gensoli also expressed concern over the spread of misinformation and urged parents to verify claims about vaccination before believing or sharing them.
“There is a lot of fake news and negative feedback, but we hope that before believing them, people will also remember the positive protection vaccines have provided to children,” she said.
Gensoli acknowledged that the city may fall short of its 95-percent target but said the CHO is hoping to reach at least 80 to 85 percent coverage by the end of the campaign.
One of the major challenges is vaccination coverage in larger barangays, where some areas have yet to reach even half of their target population. Several smaller barangays, however, have already achieved 100-percent coverage, she said.
All 61 punong barangays are assisting the campaign by going to communities, puroks and individual homes to encourage parents to have their children vaccinated.
However, local officials cannot compel parents to have their children vaccinated.
The CHO has also brought vaccination services closer to families through weekend mall vaccination activities. Gensoli said, however, that turnout at some mall sites remained low, with fewer than 10 children vaccinated during some sessions.
She urged parents to have their children vaccinated before measles cases emerge, warning that the disease is highly contagious and could spread rapidly in communities with low vaccination coverage.
“We hope parents will avail themselves of the vaccine because it is difficult when one person is affected and the whole community is put at risk,” Gensoli said.
With the campaign set to end on Aug. 28, the CHO continues to intensify its outreach and information efforts to increase vaccination coverage and narrow the gap toward its target./PN
