Malacañang urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated due to the rising cases of measles and rubella.
During a press briefing, Claire Castro, the Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer, urged parents to support the Department of Health (DOH) program “Bakunahan sa Purok ni Juan” to boost the number of immunized children.
“Sana po maipahatid natin ito sa taumbayan na mayroon po tayong ‘Bakunahan sa Purok ni Juan’ at magkakaroon po ito iyong measles catch-up immunization campaign at sa selected LGUs (local government units) po dito sa Metro Manila,” Castro said.
The program stresses the importance of vaccination and local health leaders’ commitment to protecting communities and vulnerable populations from vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Kung ang kababayan po natin ay may mga panahon, punta lamang po sila sa mga health centers at maia-avail po nila itong pagbabakuna especially po sa sinasabi nating tigdas,” Castro said.
The DOH urged the public to get their children under two years old vaccinated against measles and rubella after recording an increase in cases in the first two months of 2025.
The DOH said 922 measles-rubella cases have been recorded from January 1 to March 1 this year, an increase of 35 percent from the 683 cases logged during the same period in 2024.
Castro said the ongoing vaccination program in Metro Manila started on March 17 and will end on March 28.
She added other local government units (LGUs) will begin the catch-up vaccination in the second quarter of 2025.
The vaccination program is available in Manila, Caloocan, Quezon City, Taguig, Mandaluyong, and Las Piñas health centers.
The DOH said they are going to expand the program to vaccinate 400,000 children.
Castro announced that the DOH will establish ambulatory service centers for those affected by the high heat index.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has released DOH Department Memorandum No. 2025-0114 outlining the measures to beat the heat impact.
“Sinasabi rin po dito ay magkakaroon ng katulad ng BUCAS (Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service) centers para makatulong sa ating mga kababayan,” Castro said.
Castro announced that the government would implement public health literacy campaigns, establish cooling centers, create climate-resilient health infrastructure, and set up hydration stations.
Cooling centers are air-conditioned or well-ventilated locations that are easily accessible to the general public near public transportation routes.
Hydration stations will be established at DOH facilities to provide the public with clean and safe drinking water.
Castro mentioned that these are just some of the programs the administration and the DOH introduced. | PND
