DOH eyes measles herd immunity

MANILA, Philippines — To stop a looming measles outbreak, the Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing to achieve “herd immunity” from the potentially deadly infection through nationwide immunization.

The country can face a massive measles outbreak next year, with millions of children yet to be immunized against the disease, according to DOH national immunization program manager Maria Wilda Silva.

“We need to launch an urgent campaign to halt the measles transmission and outbreak in 2021,” Silva said at a virtual briefing yesterday.

Meanwhile, Mary Ann Bunyi, president of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, said herd immunity or having a large population immune from certain infection, could be achieved when 70 to 90 percent of the population is immunized through natural infection or vaccination.

“It does not mean that everyone has to be immune to prevent the spread of the disease, but the majority will protect the few susceptible people,” Bunyi said.

She said more than 95 percent of the population should have been vaccinated or had previous infection to stop any ongoing transmission of measles.

The DOH will conduct a nationwide immunization drive from Oct. 26 to Nov. 25, targeting 2.4 million children under five who are susceptible to measles infection.