FACT CHECK: Measles-rubella vaccines are safe and effective, says DOH

The Department of Health debunked posts circulating online spreading false information about the safety of the vaccine A Facebook user falsely claimed that the measles and measles-rubella vaccines under the 'Ligtas Tigdas' campaign are unsafe. The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the vaccines' safety and effectiveness, stating that typical side effects are mild and temporary. The DOH aims to achieve 95% vaccination coverage to prevent outbreaks of measles, a highly contagious disease that poses greater risks than the rare serious side effects of the vaccine. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. Claim: The vaccine against measles (tigdas) and measles-rubella (tigdas hangin) being administered under the government’s “Ligtas Tigdas” campaign is not safe. Rating: FALSE Why we fact-checked this: Facebook user Maharaani Sona Shiloh, who has more than 350,000 followers, posted the claim on August 5. Her video has reached more than 2.4 million views, 38,000 likes, 4,200 comments, and 54,000 shares as of writing. In the video, she labeled the Department of Health (DOH)’s nationwide “Ligtas Tigdas” program as the start of what she called the “neutralization of children.” “Ang diskarte mga kapatid, ay kunwari maswerte ka na makakatanggap ka ng libreng bakuna kasi ito ay benepisyo bilang miyembro ng 4Ps,” she said. (The strategy here is they’ll tell you you’re lucky to be among the recipients of the free vaccine, as a benefit for being a 4Ps member.) She warned social media users not to have their children vaccinated, claiming that many have died due to the side effects of the vaccine. “One in 30,000 children ay posibleng magkaroon ng febrile seizures. Mag-epilepsy sila, mangisay ba. Kirig hanggang mamatay. Brain shock, magkaroon ng brain dysfunction,” she added. (One in 30,000 children can possibly have febrile seizures. They’ll have epilepsy, they’ll have spasms. Convulse until dead. [They can have] brain shock, brain dysfunction.) She further listed other side effects of the vaccine that may lead to death and encouraged viewers to spread her video to save children from the effects of the vaccine. The facts: The measles-rubella vaccines used by DOH for its program are confirmed safe for use. The health department debunked the circulating post in a statement released on Facebook on August 7. “Mali ang mga ulat na hindi ligtas o nakamamatay ang mga bakunang ito. Tinitiyak ng DOH na ligtas at epektibo ang mga bakuna sa tigdas at tigdas-hangin,” the statement read. (Reports that these vaccines are unsafe or deadly are false. The DOH assures that the vaccines for measles are safe and effective.) Typical side effects of vaccination, such as fever and pain from the injection site, are mild and temporary only, the health department said. The DOH also addressed concerns over serious side effects of the vaccine. “Nililinaw rin ng DOH na ang anumang naiuulat na malubhang sitwasyon ay masusing iniimbestigahan ng mga eksperto at hindi awtomatikong sanhi ng bakuna. Mas malaki pa rin ang panganib na dulot ng mismong sakit kaysa sa napakabihirang seryosong side effect nito,” it said. (The DOH also clarified that any reported serious situations are thoroughly investigated by experts and are not automatically caused by the vaccine. The risk posed by the disease itself is still greater than its extremely rare serious side effects.) According to DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Dr. Exuperia B. Sabalberino, there was no reason to worry as the vaccines have been in use around the world for five decades already to protect children against preventable diseases. Ligtas Tigdas 2026: The DOH’s Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity vaccination program began in Luzon and Visayas on August 10 and will run until August 28, 2026. The campaign aims to immunize children between the ages of six and 59 months who are at risk of infection. The health department aims to achieve at least 95 percent vaccination coverage to build herd immunity and prevent outbreaks. Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that can lead to life-threatening complications. While it can affect anyone, it is most common in children. Measles-rubella, also known as German measles, is a highly contagious disease caused by the rubella virus. According to health experts, measles-rubella vaccines greatly reduce risk of infection. Health-related fact checks: Rappler has previously debunked health-related false claims: FACT CHECK: Claim that COVID-19 vaccine recipients will only live until 2030 is false FACT CHECK: Health secretary Herbosa did not endorse milk product as cancer cure FACT CHECK: Aphelion not linked to cold weather, health risks – PAGASA FACT CHECK: No reports of looming lockdown in PH due to Nipah virus – Lourence Angelo Marcellana/Rappler.com Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time. How does this make you feel? Loading