‘Goodbye Tigdas’ extended in 7 provinces, Metro until Feb. 14

MANILA, Philippines - Until Feb. 14, parents could still avail themselves of free anti-measles vaccines for their children in many health centers in the five Calabarzon provinces, Bulacan, Pampanga and Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag posted in his Twitter account (@erictayagSays) that they decided to extend the “Goodbye Tigdas” vaccination campaign until Feb. 14 “due to insistent mom (mothers’) demand.”

The DOH launched the program on Jan. 23 in the wake of the measles outbreaks in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

The program targets around two million children aged six months to one year, who missed their routine immunization against measles.

According to the DOH, routine immunization requires two doses of anti-measles vaccine at aged nine to 11 months and at one year.

According to studies, many children got their first dose but tend to miss their second dose, thus rendering them unprotected against the highly contagious disease.

Under the program, free vaccination against measles was to be available in health centers in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bulacan and Pampanga only until Feb. 3.