Following a historic and successful presidency of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, Secretary Ted Herbosa affirmed the Department of Health (DOH)’s commitment to strengthening routine immunization in the Philippines.

This came after the WHO Regional Office raised an alarm over falling vaccine coverage and eroding trust observed in the Western Pacific.

As of 10 May, the DOH recorded 2,118 measles-rubella (MR) cases (of which 2,068 are measles cases), an eight percent increase from the same period last year.

The top five regions with the most MR cases are the National Capital Region (642), Calabarzon (289), Mimaropa (148), Central Luzon (146), and Zamboanga Peninsula (137).

Meanwhile, the case fatality rate (CFR) for the same period is at 0.42 percent, a slight decrease from the CFR of 0.46 percent last year.

Of note is the massive decrease in the number of cases in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) this year at 121, almost 10 times less than what was recorded last year (1,179 cases).

Herbosa reported that as of 28 May, the DOH has so far vaccinated a total of 1,203,497 individuals in BARMM as part of its Measles Outbreak Response Immunization (MORI).

“This kind of vaccination effort is what we must do, on a routine basis,” he stressed.

Data gathered as of February 2025 showed that the nationwide Fully-Immunized Child (FIC) coverage (children who received all recommended vaccines before their first birthday) for 2024 reached only 64.85 percent, far from the World Health Organization’s goal of 95 percent annual immunization coverage.

“Routine vaccination should be done faster, higher, stronger, and together,” Herbosa added, echoing remarks he gave at the closing of the 78th WHA.

In the international meeting of Ministers of Health, the Health chief likened the spirit of global health to the Olympics, urging nations to be faster in their response to save lives, higher in their collective goal toward Universal Health Care, and stronger in building resilient, inclusive, and equitable health systems for all, together.

“We have more proof that the DOH can do it. When President Marcos told me to contain the Pertussis outbreak in 2024, intensified nationwide vaccination brought the numbers down,” Herbosa recalled.

Herbosa was formally sworn in on 19 May as President of the 78th World Health Assembly, making it the first time the Philippines chaired the highest decision-making body in global health, which is comprised of 194 member countries.

For the same period from 1 January to 10 May, the Philippines recorded only 200 pertussis cases nationwide—15 times less than the 2,968 cases in 2024.

The DOH continues to strengthen its Routine Immunization program through Catch-up Vaccination and School-Based Vaccination programs. The “Bakuna BayaniJuan: Big Catch-up Immunization” program, launched in the National Capital Region from 17 November to 16 December 2024, successfully vaccinated 1,753,950 individuals.

Additionally, the School-Based Immunization program has reached 3.8 million students nationwide. Similar efforts are underway in 2025.