The Department of Health – Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) has administered measles-rubella vaccines to 93,416 children aged 6 to 59 months since the supplemental immunization campaign began on Aug. 10, an official said Tuesday.

Dr. Deab Eltanal, acting chief of the DOH-NIR Local Health Division, said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency that the agency remains hopeful of reaching its target by the end of the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MRSIA) next week.

“We still have around 344,170 children to receive the supplemental immunization, and we need the cooperation of parents, mothers, fathers, and family members to bring their young children who are qualified for the vaccination to our health centers,” Eltanal said.

He noted that the actual number of vaccinated children may already be higher, as the DOH-NIR conducts weekly monitoring and reporting of the campaign.

DOH-NIR data showed that from Aug. 11 to 14, Negros Oriental recorded 15,162 vaccinated children out of a target of 136,717, or 11.1 percent coverage.

Negros Occidental, meanwhile, vaccinated 67,987 of its 244,757 target children, equivalent to 27.8 percent coverage.

In Siquijor, 1,019 children received the supplemental vaccine out of the province’s target of 7,273, or 14 percent coverage.

Bacolod City recorded 9,248 vaccinated children out of 48,839 targeted recipients, or 18.9 percent coverage.

Eltanal reiterated that the measles-rubella supplemental vaccine is safe, contrary to false information circulating online and through word of mouth regarding alleged negative side effects.

He said the DOH-NIR will mobilize additional teams to intensify the vaccination drive during the remaining 10 days of the campaign.

The “Ligtas Tigdas: 2026” MRSIA was launched on Aug. 10 and will run until Aug. 28. (PNA)