The death of a seven-month-old baby in Dumanjug was found to be coincidental to the administration of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine, according to the Cebu Provincial Health Office (CPHO), as the province recorded low vaccination coverage during this year’s supplemental immunization campaign.
Lorraine Gemperoso, National Immunization Program coordinator of the CPHO, said a surveillance team was sent to Dumanjug following the death of the infant last month.
The case was also discussed during a regional adverse events following immunization (AEFI) surveillance meeting attended by pediatricians and other medical experts who reviewed the findings gathered by the investigation team.
‘Ang atong findings ato, coincidental ra gyud siya, not directly related to the vaccine [Our findings came out that it was coincidental and not directly related to the vaccine],’ Gemperoso said during the Higustan Ta! Media Forum on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026.
She said the same finding was reached in the case involving another patient in Danao City, Cebu, who also died following vaccination. Gemperoso said the patient in the Danao case had an underlying condition.
The Dumanjug Municipal Health Office (MHO) had earlier said there was no official finding establishing that the MR vaccine caused or contributed to the infant’s death.
The child had received the vaccine on Aug. 10.
According to the MHO’s initial review, the child had previously consulted the Dumanjug Primary Care Facility on July 9 for acute gastroenteritis without signs of dehydration. The child was treated and recovered.
Before the vaccination, the child underwent health education and assessment, including vital-sign and temperature checks. The caregiver consented to the vaccination administered by a nurse, and post-vaccination instructions were given.
The MHO said the child began experiencing diarrhea and vomiting on Aug. 23. The symptoms persisted and were followed by fever the next morning, prompting the caregivers to seek medical attention.
The case was reported to the Department of Health Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit on Aug. 25 as an adverse event following immunization for investigation.
On Aug. 27, representatives from the DOH, CPHO and Dumanjug MHO conducted a case investigation at the Dumanjug Primary Care Facility and visited the family for dialogue and information gathering.
The MHO also ordered the collection and analysis of a water sample from the family’s household as part of its fact-finding efforts.
Mayor calls for facts
Dumanjug Mayor Guntrano ‘Gungun’ Gica, meanwhile, addressed questions over accountability in a series of responses to comments on his social media post about the baby. Gica said the loss of a child was serious and that the family deserved answers, but stressed that accountability should be based on facts, evidence and due process.
Gica also clarified that the placement of the baby’s photograph at the Dumanjug birthing facility was not meant to erase, justify or diminish what happened.
He said the photograph was placed there as a remembrance of the child’s life and as a reminder that ‘every mother matters, every child matters and every life is precious.’
‘As a father, it hurts deeply to lose a daughter. No parent should ever have to experience such pain,’ Gica said in his post.
He said the municipality had discussed the memorial gesture with the family, whom he said appreciated the effort.
‘We will continue to stand by the facts, uphold due process and serve our community with compassion, professionalism and integrity,’ Gica said.
Cebu vaccination coverage remains low
The Dumanjug case comes as Cebu Province posted only 21.2-percent coverage in this year’s MR Supplemental Immunization Activity, down sharply from about 90 percent in 2023. The Aug. 10 to Sept. 4 campaign targeted children aged six months to 59 months and included Vitamin A supplementation.
CPHO officials attributed the low turnout to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation on social media, with some LGUs recording coverage as low as 10 percent.
Dr. Mario Joyag Jr. of the CPHO warned that low vaccination rates could leave children vulnerable to measles and complications such as pneumonia.
The CPHO plans to intensify community education and train health workers to address parents’ concerns, while strengthening house-to-house vaccination and other outreach efforts.