Malacañang urges vaccine uptake amid measles surge

Malacañang on Wednesday urged parents to have their children vaccinated against diseases amid a reported increase in measles cases in Metro Manila and other areas.

The 'Bakunahan sa Purok ni Juan' program is being carried out in health centers across Caloocan, Quezon City, Taguig, Manila, Mandaluyong, and Las Piñas to bring free immunization closer to communities.

Undersecretary Claire Castro of the Presidential Communications Office encouraged parents and guardians to have their children vaccinated against measles, particularly those under two years old.

The DOH reported 922 measles-rubella cases from January 1 to March 1 this year, a 35 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, with about 68 percent of these cases being unvaccinated individuals.

In addition to vaccination efforts, the government will implement measures such as establishing BUCAS centers and cooling stations to address heat-related health risks.