The Cebu Provincial Health Office (CPHO) has stated that the death of an infant in Dumanjug was coincidental to a measles-rubella (MR) vaccination, according to BusinessMirror. The CPHO said the baby's death is not linked to the MR vaccine, mytv.ph reports.
The reports, published Thursday, did not provide further details on the circumstances of the infant's death.
The statement comes amid a measles-rubella vaccination drive in Cebu that has seen very low turnout. According to tribune.net.ph, only 21.2 percent of the target number of children in Cebu have been vaccinated. Manila Bulletin reports that measles-rubella vaccination coverage in the province remains low, while cebudailynews.inquirer.net reports that the campaign has been plagued by misinformation alongside the weak turnout.
Health authorities have not released additional information beyond the CPHO's assessment that the death was coincidental to the vaccination.
The low coverage figures and the misinformation surrounding the campaign are likely to remain central to the province's immunization efforts. What to watch next: whether Cebu health officials release further details on the Dumanjug case and whether vaccination turnout improves in the coming weeks.