Ligtas Tigdas 2004 is a special nationwide vaccination month for children who are at high risk of getting measles. The Department of Health identified these children to be those between the ages of 9 months to less than 8 years old.

During the Ligtas Tigdas 2004, 100% of the children in this age group will be vaccinated. Other children are not classified as high risk.

The Philippine Measles Elimination Campaign of which the Ligtas Tigdas 2004 is only one component. PMEC includes continuing routine vaccination of infants at 9 months old after Ligtas Tigdas 2004; the catch-up mass vaccination done in 1998; continuing monitoring or disease surveillance and Follow-up campaign such as Ligtas Tigdas 2004 which may have to be repeated every 4 or 5 years.Vitamin A capsules will also be given to children 9 months to below 6 years of age.

The “LIGTAS TIGDAS” should be done to rapidly reduce the number of children at risk of getting measles infection which has accumulated in the past years. This nationwide campaign supports the routine vaccination given on a regular basis at the health centers.

It is a Door-to-Door campaign. “BakunaDOORS” (Vaccination Teams) led by doctors, nurses and midwives will visit every home and school to vaccinate children against measles which will be done in the whole month of February 2004