Cebu lawmaker calls for unity to fight vaccine misinformation

Local

A MEMBER of the Provincial Board (PB) has called on the public, particularly Cebu leaders, to unite to actively counter vaccine misinformation in social media

Stanley Caminero, a doctor, expressed concern and frustration over the spread of misinformation about measles and rubella vaccination.

Caminero, representing the second district of Cebu, said misinformation resulted in the refusal of some parents to get their children vaccinated against the disease.

“Sa panahon sa Facebook, sa Tiktok ug sa Youtube, ang sayop nga mensahe mas paspas pa nga mokaylap kesa virus” Caminero said in a privilege speech on Monday, Aug. 17.

Caminero noted that these misleading social media posts and videos made by some vloggers and other social media personalities can quickly influence parents to refuse vaccination for their children despite efforts of doctors and health personnel to explain the importance and safety of the vaccines.

The board member emphasized that freedom of speech comes with responsibility, especially for social media personalities with a wider audience.

Vloggers with misleading contents about measles and rubella vaccination to correct the misinformation, Caminero said.

“Mao sab kana ang mensahe nato sa atong vloggers, kung mosulti mo andam sad mo nga manubag sa inyong gipanabi. Kun nasayop, ayaw lang idelete ang post, tul-ira ang sayop, mangayo og pasaylo, ug tabangi ang mga tawo nga inyong na impluwensyahan. Ang kagawasan sa pagpamulong dili kagawasan gikan sa bugti nga responsibilidad ug kaakohan,” Caminero said.

Caminero stressed that measles-rubella vaccines are not experimental, saying these vaccines have been used by the health sector for many decades since the 1960s and were proven to be effective and even saved over 94 million lives.

Caminero’s call came after Department of Health (DOH) data that showed over 5, 000 measles and rubella cases were recorded from January 2025 to January 2026.

The figures are 32 percent higher compared to the same period in the previous year.

Out of the figures, 73% of the cases involved unvaccinated children with many parents refusing to get their children vaccinated for fear that the vaccines may lead to health complications and even death.

The rising number of these cases prompted the DOH to continue strengthening its campaign dubbed as “Ligtas Tigdas 2026: Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity”.

In Central Visayas, the DOH is targeting to vaccinate over 630,000 children aged 6 to 59 months.(MyTVCebu)