The Philippines is confronting a growing public health concern as delayed vaccine supply threatens to derail efforts to protect Filipino children from life-threatening but preventable diseases.
“We’re not just seeing a spike in disease — we’re seeing a signal that the systems meant to protect children are faltering,” said June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific. “No child should suffer or die from a disease we know how to prevent.”
This warning follows a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighting a regional surge in measles cases across East Asia and the Pacific—including the Philippines—marking the highest levels since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From January to May 2025, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 2,118 measles-rubella (MR) cases, an 8% increase from the same period last year. The highest number of cases were observed in NCR, CALABARZON, and Central Luzon—regions heavily dependent on public health services.
Despite DOH pronouncements to achieve 95% vaccination coverage, many health facilities are bracing for gaps in vaccine availability. As of May, most of the 2025 immunization budget remains unutilized, with several procurement activities either stalled or without publicly confirmed timelines.
DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who recently chaired the World Health Assembly, has committed to strengthening immunization efforts. However, the absence of clear delivery schedules casts doubts over program continuity, particularly as the country approaches the second half of the year.
Public health experts warn that without timely distribution, critical vaccine stockouts may occur, disrupting routine and school-based immunization campaigns. This exposes children to greater risks of contracting diseases such as polio, pertussis, and rubella.
As of 2024, only 64.85% of children under one year old had been fully immunized—well below the national goal. While Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) were implemented last year to catch up, the country still fell short of its targets.
So far, there have been no announcements to scale up similar campaigns in 2025, even as supply challenges persist. This includes the school-based “Bakuna BayaniJuan” program, which reached 3.8 million students last year but may now be compromised.
