Revilla pushes for expansion of Mandatory Immunization Program
Sen. Bong Revilla is seeking for the expansion of the coverage of the mandatory basic immunization program to help prevent the spread of polio and other diseases.
The veteran legislator filed a bill (S. No. 662), "An Act Expanding the Coverage of the Mandatory Basic Immunization Program and Providing a System in the Determination of other types of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases," to amend the purpose of R.A. 10152, or the "Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011."
During the observance of the World Immunization Week last April, UNICEF revealed that an estimated 2.9 million Filipino children are unvaccinated, and remain vulnerable to deadly diseases such as measles, rubella and polio. While the increase of the immunization program coverage remains a challenge, Bong Revilla wants to address the insufficient list of mandatory basic immunization to completely protect the infants and children.
Once Republic Act 10152 is amended, vaccinations for Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), and Fluman Papilloma Virus (FIPV) will be included in the list of annual vaccines given by the government. The inclusion of the vaccines in the list will be very beneficial not only for the health of infants and children, but also for the mothers who can avail of it for free in any government hospital or health center.
This bill also mandates the Formulary Executive Council (FEC) and the National Immunization Committee (NIC) to make recommendations to the Secretary of Health as to other types of vaccines that should be included in the list, and to provide technical support for the National Immunization Program of the Department of Health (DOH).
Revilla also deemed the bill necessary after DOH declared a National Dengue Outbreak last month, and after two cases of polio have been recently reported.
MANDATORY IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM PINALAWAK PA NI REVILLA
PINALAWAK pa ni Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. ang coverage ng mandatory basic immunization program upang makatulong sa pagsugpo ng pagkalat ng polio at iba pang sakit. Ito ang nilalaman ng isinumiteng panukalang batas ni Revilla (S.No.662), “An Act Expanding the Coverage of the Mandatory Basic Immunization Program and Providing a System in the Determination of other types of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases,” upang maamyendahan ang layunin ng R.A. 10152, o ang “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011.” Sa pagmamasid sa World Immunization Week noong nakaraang Abril, inihayag ng UNICEF na tinatayang nasa 2.9 milyong batang Pinoy ay hindi pa nababakunahan at nananatiling hindi ligtas sa sakit tulad ng measles, rubella at polio. Habang ang patuloy na pagtaas ng mga immunization program coverage ay nananatili itong pagsubok kaya nais ni Revilla na matugunan ang kakulangan ng talaan ng mandatory basic immunization upang kumpletong mabigyan ng proteksiyon ang mga sanggol at mga bata. Sakaling maamyendahan ang Republic Act 10152, ang bakuna para sa Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), at Fluman Papilloma Virus (FIPV) ay maitatala na sa listahan ng taunang bakuna na ibibigay ng pamahalaan. Ang pagsama ng naturang bakuna sa listahan ay magbebenipisyo hindi lamang sa kalusugan ng mga sanggol at mga bata kung hindi maging sa mga ina na maari ito makuha ng libre sa kahit anong government hospital o health center. Ang batas na ito ay nag-aatas din na ang Formulary Executive Council (FEC) at ang National Immunization Committee (NIC) na magsagawa ng rekomendasyon sa Secretary of Health para sa iba pang klase ng bakuna na maaaring isama sa listahan upang makapagbigay ng technical support para sa National Immunization Program ng Department of Health (DOH). Itinuturing din ni Revilla na napakahalaga ng batas na ito makaraang magdeklara ang DOH ng National Dengue Outbreak noong nakaraang buwan, dagdag pa ang magkasunod na kaso ng polio na iniulat kamakailan.
http://senate.gov.ph/press_release/2019/0924_revilla1.asp