In an interview on "News To Go" on Friday, Herbosa said only around 84 percent of the target population nationwide has "fully" been immunized against the measles virus.
"[Ang average coverage po] 84 percent. 'Yung ibang lugar mababa, nasa 79 percent, may 80 percent, may 90 percent," he said.
He noted that the country's measles immunization rate should be at least 95 percent to effectively eliminate the disease.
"Kapag magawa mo 'yung 95 percent continuously, ma-eliminate mo ang diseases, kagaya ng nagawa natin sa polio," he added.
But the current immunization rate, he said, may still be higher as the government only count its own efforts.
"Eighty-four percent, 'yon ang bilang namin sa public sector. Maaaring ang mga magulang, dinala ang kanilang mga anak sa private hospital. Maganda kung magbigay sila (private hospitals) ng (sarili nilang mga) tala," he added.
He also stressed the need for parents to have their children get booster shots of immunizing agents after the initial vaccines in order to get the "full range" effect.
"Bago ang sanggol mag-one year old, between 9 to 11 months, dapat siyang dalhin sa health center at bigyan siya ng measles vaccine. At uulitin po ito after about two to three months... na tinatawag na MMR, 'yung measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. Dalawa iyon, booster na ang pangalawa dun," Herbosa said.
May pangatlo pa 'yan bago pumasok ng school, at about 5 to 6 years old, binibigyan ulit namin ng booster shot," he added.
Earlier reports indicate that measles outbreak affecting some parts of the Philippines might have been a result of parent's lack of full awareness of the importance of getting booster shots for their children after the initial vaccine.
On the other hand, Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag on Monday said the recent measles outbreak was caused by some local government units’ failure to implement the state-sponsored immunization program.
He said some cities reported low compliance rates despite DOH’s efforts to purchase and distribute needed vaccines to LGUs that are supposed to implement the program.
For his part, Herbosa said the DOH's immunization program has an allocation of almost P2 billion. "Tuluy-tuloy ang kampanya sa pagbabakuna, 'yung Ligtas Tigdas program," he added.
He noted that prior to measles outbreak in some cities in Metro Manila, they had started giving out vaccines.
"August palang, we gave half a million doses of vaccines, at pinuntahan ang mga area na may cluster of cases para masugpo mo... iyon ang ginagawa kapag may outbreak. Kailangan mong gawin ng mabilisan. May maiwan ka lang na iba, tuluy-tuloy ang pagdami [ng mga kaso]," he said.
In a separate report on "News To Go," Dr. Rustico Jimenez, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines president, said: "Kung nabigyan ng vaccines na kinakailangan ng mga bata o matatanda, mga three to four months earlier, hindi mangyayari ang epidemic ngayon."
"Ngayon na mayroon nang epidemic, saka lang sila [LGUs] nagkukumahog na mag-immunize," he added.
— Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News
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