Rubella in pregnancy may cause lifelong birth defects, OPHO-Kalinga warns, urging parents to vaccinate children

"Nu maakaran dagiti buntis ket adda ti potential nga adda ti complication or defects nga mangyare doon sa kanyang baby na nasa sinapupunan niya." — OPHO II Dr. Edward Tandingan

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Amid declining childhood immunization coverage in the province, the Kalinga Office of the Provincial Health Officer (OPHO) has warned that rubella infection during pregnancy can result in serious birth defects in unborn babies, urging parents and caregivers to have eligible children vaccinated during the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MRSIA) this August.

Speaking during the Provincial Government of Kalinga's regular flag-raising ceremony on July 6 at the Kalinga Sports Center in Bulanao, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Edward Tandingan stressed the importance of vaccination, saying pregnant women who contract rubella risk passing severe complications to their unborn children.

"The significance of having a vaccination against rubella is that—nu maakaran dagiti buntis ket adda ti potential nga adda ti complication or defects nga mangyare doon sa kanyang baby na nasa sinapupunan niya. So yun yung significance nun is its very unfortunate if a newborn would be brought to this world with such congenital conditions," he said.

What is rubella?

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral disease spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is generally a mild illness among children and adults, often causing fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a red rash.

However, when a pregnant woman—particularly during the first trimester—becomes infected, the virus may pass to the developing fetus and cause Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Babies born with CRS may suffer from heart defects, hearing impairment, blindness, developmental delays, or other lifelong disabilities. Rubella infection during pregnancy may also lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.

Stages of rubella infection

After exposure to the virus, rubella typically has an incubation period of 14 to 21 days, during which infected individuals usually do not show symptoms.

This is followed by the prodromal stage, when mild fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, or general discomfort may develop. A red rash then appears, usually starting on the face before spreading to the rest of the body. Most people recover within a few days, but infected individuals can spread the virus about one week before the rash appears and up to one week after it develops, making vaccination essential in preventing transmission.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), both measles and rubella are vaccine-preventable diseases. While measles can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation, permanent disability, and even death—particularly among young children and immunocompromised individuals—rubella is generally milder but poses serious risks to unborn babies when contracted during pregnancy.

Decline in childhood immunization in Kalinga

Tandingan further explained that Kalinga has experienced a decline in routine childhood immunization coverage in recent years, a trend also observed in other parts of the country. He warned that lower vaccination rates increase the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and rubella.

To address this, the OPHO will conduct the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MRSIA) this August, targeting children aged 6 to 59 months to strengthen immunity and prevent the spread of the two highly contagious viral diseases.

"...daytoy ket mangyare nu August. Ti message kuma ket maawis amin ti parents, grandparents and caregivers of children aged 6mos to 59mos to bring the children for immunization to the nearest health center. Diay bakuna ket libre, inted daytoy—sagot daytoy ti gobyerno tayo. Safe dagitoy—and it is very potent—protektaran na dagitoy ubbing laban ti measles, german measles and their possible complications which include neurologic damage," he said.

The Provincial Health Office emphasized that achieving high vaccination coverage is essential to protecting vulnerable groups—particularly infants and pregnant women—through community immunity while preventing future outbreaks.

With the vaccination campaign approaching, the OPHO is intensifying its information drive to encourage iKalingas to bring their eligible children to the nearest health center and avail themselves of the free measles-rubella vaccine.