Iloilo Falls Short of 95% Immunization Target

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) reported that the province has yet to meet its 95% target for fully immunized children (FIC), despite ranking first in the region in 2024.

Provincial data show fluctuating vaccination coverage over the past five years: 74% in 2020, 70% in 2021, 63% in 2022, 69% in 2023, and 74% in 2024.

“The target is 95%, but we still fell short. This means there are still children who remain unvaccinated or have missed doses,” IPHO chief Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said.

She urged parents to bring their children to health centers for free immunization to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases and reduce the risk of severe illness or death.

“If distance is a concern, our midwives conduct scheduled visits to barangay health stations every Wednesday,” she added.

Top and Lowest-Performing Municipalities

Out of Iloilo’s 42 municipalities and one component city, only five surpassed the 95% immunization target last year:

• San Enrique – 100%
• Cabatuan – 98.66%
• Barotac Nuevo – 97.24%
• Tigbauan – 96.40%
• Miagao – 95.50%

Meanwhile, the municipalities with the lowest immunization rates were:

• Estancia – 44.22%
• Badiangan – 53.13%
• Bingawan – 53.22%
• Alimodian – 53.84%
• Leon – 55.31%

Rising Measles Concerns

Health concerns have intensified following three confirmed measles cases in Iloilo:

• An 11-month-old infant from Tabucan, Cabatuan, who had received only one vaccine dose.
• A 31-year-old unvaccinated sales clerk from Culasi, Ajuy.
• A 16-year-old male from Iloilo City residing in Barangay Bongco, Pototan.

All three patients have since recovered, but health officials remain alarmed.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease spread through coughing or sneezing.

It can cause severe illness, complications, and even death.

Symptoms typically appear 10 to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash.

White spots inside the cheeks, known as Koplik’s spots, are an early indicator.

Dr. Quiñon emphasized the importance of timely measles vaccinations, with the first dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine at nine months and the second dose at 12 months, ensuring 97% protection against measles.

For infants not yet fully vaccinated, she advised parents to limit their exposure to crowded places, prevent others from kissing them, and avoid contact with individuals showing symptoms of illness.

“We strongly urge parents to have their children fully vaccinated. If they are not yet fully protected, they should avoid unnecessary exposure. We have observed infants being brought to malls despite not having complete vaccinations, which is very risky,” she warned.

National Immunization Trends

Iloilo’s immunization gap mirrors the national trend, with the Department of Health (DOH) reporting a preliminary 61% FIC coverage as of December 2024, equivalent to 1.4 million children.

During the National Immunization Summit 2025, DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Director Dr. Gerard Belimac said that while progress has been made in reducing “zero-dose” children, the country’s immunization rates remain below the ideal level.

DOH Assistant Secretary Farwa Hombre explained that failure to reach 95% coverage could lead to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccines Required for Full Immunization

The DOH aims to fully immunize every child under one year old with the following vaccines:

• Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) – for tuberculosis
• Three doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV)
• Three doses of pentavalent vaccine – for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and Hepatitis B
• Two doses of measles-containing vaccine (MCV)