The Department of Health (DOH) is set to vaccinate at least 1.3 million children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) against highly infectious measles in April.

This, following the alarming surge in measles cases with 77 percent of the confirmed cases in the Philippines being reported in BARMM.

A vaccination drive will be conducted from 1 to 12 April in the densely populated areas of Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Marawi City.

With one million doses of measles vaccines for this region that United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) will help to buy, in response to DOH Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa's fast track request, health workers will fan out across the region in one major round.

They will give measles shots to children aged six months to 10 years.

UNICEF will also help procure another one million doses of measles vaccines for the rest of the country.

Children aged six to 59 months will receive one dose of vitamin A, while those with confirmed cases of measles will receive two doses.

Vitamin A is a low-cost way to prevent complications from happening and boost immunity against other illnesses. 

“There is a critical need to reach and vaccinate the children missed during routine vaccinations,” BARMM Deputy Minister for Health, Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas said.

“We have to make sure that no child is left behind in the BARMM. We have the support of many stakeholders, now it is up to us to lead in this fight against this deadly disease,” Abas added.

Most contagious disease

According to World Health Organization (WHO), measles is “probably the most contagious disease known to affect humans.”

It can affect anyone, it added, though it is most common in children. Data from the current outbreak has as many as 30 percent of the cases above five years of age.

Apart from its direct effect on the body, which can be lethal, the measles virus also weakens the immune system and makes a child more vulnerable to other infectious diseases like lung, brain and ear infections, diarrhea, and blindness.

The cost to the healthcare system as well as lost family income when caring for sick children is staggering.

According to PhilHealth, it may cost up to P40,000 per pneumonia case — the commonest measles complication.

On the other hand, it costs the government P200-300 to vaccinate a child with measles vaccine. The vaccines are provided free to the population.

Between 1 January and 2 March this year, the region has officially reported 592 cases of measles.

It is generally believed that the total number of cases in the community is much more.

Last October, Lanao del Sur activated their emergency operations centers for a measles outbreak in all health units. In the same month, Marawi City declared a measles outbreak.

WHO stressed that community-wide vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles.

Urgent, targeted, and accelerated efforts are critical to reach all children with the necessary measles vaccine.

WHO has provided DOH with technical assistance based on global best practices for measles vaccination.

This includes recommendations on vaccination strategies, guidance on the target populations, disease surveillance and health worker training.

UNICEF, meanwhile, has supported the region with vaccine procurement, deployed additional health staff, built cold chain capacity, engaged with religious and community leaders to address hesitancy and misinformation, among other forms of support.

For the Philippines to be safe from the threat of measles, 95 percent of the infants must be vaccinated with two doses of measles vaccine at nine and 12 months of age during routine childhood immunization.

Failing this, many children grow up unprotected — only to catch measles later with protracted community transmission and periodic outbreaks.

The agencies called for more investments where needed and to maximize existing resources in vaccine supply, human resources, and social behavioral change to address this and any possible outbreaks in the future.