Manila: More than 1 million children in the National Capital Region have been vaccinated against measles and rubella, with the Department of Health (DOH) reporting Tuesday that its supplemental immunization campaign reached 87.1% of its target.

According to Philippines News Agency, as of June 30, the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) had vaccinated 1,045,889 of the 1,200,428 targeted children ages 6 to 59 months. The DOH said the total includes 6,100 children whose vaccinations were initially deferred or declined but were later administered following continued engagement with parents and communities.

Eight of Metro Manila's 17 cities exceeded the 95% vaccination coverage needed for community protection against measles. They are Para±aque, Makati, Manila, Pasay, Navotas, Mandaluyong, Pasig, and Quezon City, which recorded the highest number of vaccinated children at 262,720. The agency also reported that 1,092 of Metro Manila's 1,715 barangays, or 64%, achieved the recommended 95% vaccination coverage to help prevent measles outbreaks.

The DOH urged parents to continue bringing their children to health centers for routine immunization, stressing that special vaccination campaigns should not replace regularly scheduled childhood vaccinations. As of May 2026, the NCR posted the country's highest routine measles-rubella vaccination coverage, with 32.32% for the first dose and 32.57% for the second dose. Makati, Quezon City, and Pasig each recorded at least 40% coverage, the highest rates nationwide.

Despite the gains, the region remains below its May target of 54% coverage, indicating that many children have yet to receive their scheduled vaccinations. "Every child who gets vaccinated is one more child protected from serious illness," the DOH said. "We encourage families whose children have not yet completed their routine vaccinations to visit their health centers."