Philippines - mandatory immunization to infants and children

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Noy signs 3 new laws

By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated June 22, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino signed into law yesterday the bills

extending for 10 years the subsidy on electricity charges for poor households,

providing mandatory immunization to infants and children, and lifting the

prohibition for women night workers.

In his speech during the signing ceremonies at Malacañang, the President said

the new laws would impact most on the marginalized sectors of society.

Aquino said the new laws might be judged insignificant by some, “but they embody

our intention to stay true to what we promised the Filipino people.”

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino signed into law yesterday the bills

extending for 10 years the subsidy on electricity charges for poor households,

providing mandatory immunization to infants and children, and lifting the

prohibition for women night workers.

In his speech during the signing ceremonies at Malacañang, the President said

the new laws would impact most on the marginalized sectors of society.

Aquino said the new laws might be judged insignificant by some, “but they embody

our intention to stay true to what we promised the Filipino people.”

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The enactment of RA 10152 or the mandatory basic immunization services for

infants and children is consistent with the Philippines’ commitment to the

United Nations 2015 Millennium Development Goals to reduce child mortality.

Under the law, all children under five years would be given free basic

immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases such as pulmonary

tuberculosis, Hepatitis-B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles,

mumps, pneumonia, meningitis and influenza.

“Specifically, this bill provides for all infants to be given the birth dose of

the Hepatitis-B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. Hepatitis-B can be a crippling

disease as it can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, among others,” Aquino

said.

“It is not fair that the vaccine against Hepatitis-B can only be afforded by a

privileged few. We are doing this to give these children and their families more

access to health care, which the more privileged among us often take for

granted,” the President said.

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