Republic of the Philippines
Aouse of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

8078

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

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, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10152,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MANDATORY INFANTS AND CHILDREN
HEALTH IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 2011"

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2016, the Department of Health (DOH) has released a survey
showing results that there are around 3,670 cases of children aged 5 years
and below hospitalized for Rotavirus Diarrhea in the Philippines. The agency
also reported a total of 229 diarrheal cases received from regional hospitals
as they performed an outbreak investigation.! Globally, there are 215,000
cases of deaths caused by the Rotavirus which accounts to 3.4% of all child
deaths.2

In Asia, the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is the leading cause of viral
encephalitis resulting in brain inflammation that also leads to brain
infection which includes symptoms such as high fever, chills, and headache.
This disease is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes breeding in water pools or
flooded rice fields. In the Philippines, families in nearby pig farms and rice
fields are the most vulnerable. In Region |, Il, and Ill, there were 340 cases
of Japanese Encephalitis in 2018.

' Department of Health (2016) Status of Rotavirus and Rota vaccine in
the Philippines. https:/ /preventrotavirus.org/wp-content /uploads/2018 /0+/Silva Status-of-
Rotavirus-and-Rota-vaccine-in-the-Philippines.pdf (Accessed 17 November 2020)
? World Health Organization (2016), Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals.
https: //www. who. int/immunization /monitoring surveillance /burden /estimates /rotavirus/en/
(Accessed 17 November 2020)
Outbreak News Today (2019) Japanese encephalitis takes the life of Pangasinan teen.
http:/ /outbreaknewstoday.com//japanese-encephalitis-takes-the-life-of-pangasinan-teen-87898 /.


As for Pneumococcal Conjugate, just like the Rotavirus, this mostly
victimized children below 5 years old and adults over 55 years old, especially
those with heart diseases. This may come from indoor air pollution or
overpopulated neighborhoods. In 2008, the Pneumococcal Conjugate
became the 4th leading cause of death with 35,756 Filipinos, and a number
of 586,186 Filipinos suffering from pneumonia and respiratory tract
infections.*

As of 2018, there are 7,190 new cervical cancer cases diagnosed
yearly in the Philippines, and is the 2nd leading cause of female cancer in
the country. This is very common in women ages 15 to 44 years old. In Asia
there are 62,456 cases annually and 569,847 cases globally.5

Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, it is the duty of the State to
protect and promote health of the Filipinos and instill health consciousness
among them. It is significant for the State to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development and make health and social
services accessible to all at the most affordable cost.

With recent data supporting the increase of infection rates of these
diseases among Filipino children, our efforts to strengthen existing health
policies must also keep up with the needs of the times.

This bill seeks to expand the measures of the Republic Act No 10152
which mandates infants and children health immunization by including
Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine,
and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine to the coverage. More importantly, it
seeks to further highlight the task of the Secretary of the Department of
Health (DOH) to determine other types of vaccine-preventable diseases. In
order to democratize the process, this legislation requires the
recommendations of the Formulary Executive Council (FEC) and the
National Immunization Committee prior to the determination of new
vaccines to be included in the National Immunization Program. This bill also
serves as a counterpart legislation for Senate Bill No. 398 filed by Senator
Bong Go.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

mee AS

(Accessed on 17 November 2020)
Inquirer (2015) Preventing pneumococcal disease through vaccination.

https: / /business.inquirer.net/203995 /preventing-pneumococcal-disease-through-vaccination.
\ecessed on 17 November 2020)
HPV Information Center (2019) Human Papillomavirus and Related Diseases Report.

https: / /www hpvcentre.net /statistics /reports /PHL-pdf?t=1559474177321. (Accessed on 17

November 2020)


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metra Mauila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8078

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

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, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10152,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MANDATORY INFANTS AND CHILDREN
HEALTH IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 2011"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10152 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“Section 3. Coverage. - The mandatory basic immunization for all
infants and children provided under this Act shall cover the following
vaccine-preventable diseases:

(a) Tuberculosis;
(b) Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis;

(c) Poliomyelitis;

(d) Measles;

(c) Mumps;

()) Rubella or German measles;

(g) Hepatitis-B;

(h) H. Influenza type B (HIB); [and]

(i) ROTAVIRUS;

) JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS;

(k) PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE (PCV);

() HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV); AND

{m) Such other types as may be determined by the Secretary of


Health in a department circular[.] IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FORMULARY EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL (FEC) AND THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION
COMMITTEE (NIC) CREATED AS AN ADVISORY GROUP TO
PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE SETTING OF A DOH
POLICY DIRECTION ON THE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION
PROGRAM (NIP).

xxx’

SECTION 2. A new section to be numbered as Section 7 is hereby added
after Section 6 of the same Act to read as follows:

"SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT. - THE DOH SHALL SUBMIT TO THE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND DEMOGRAPHY, AND THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ON OR BEFORE THE
END OF DECEMBER OF EVERY YEAR, OR UPON REQUEST OF ANY OF
THE AFORESAID COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS, A REPORT GIVING A
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS ACT."

SECTION 3. Sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the same Act are hereby
renumbered as Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, respectively.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,