FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENilT.,r 
S. No. 
H:s39 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Influenza, commonly Imown as flu, is an infectious disease caused by a RNA virus of the 
family Orthomyxoviridae or the influenza viruses. In humans, common symptoms of influenza 
infection 'are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and 
fatigue. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly in 
young children and the elderly, Sometimes confused with the common cold, influenza is a much 
more severe disease and is caused by a different type of virus. 
Typically, influenza is transmitted from infected mammals through the air by coughs or 
sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus, and from infected birds through their droppings. 
Influenza can also be transmitted by saliva, nasal secretions, feces and blood. Infections occur 
through contact with these bodily fluids or with contaminated surfaces. Flu viruses can remain 
infectious for about one week at human body temperature, over 30 days at 0 "C (32 OF), and 
indefinitely at very low temperatures. Most influenza strains can be inactivated easily by 
disinfectants and detergents. 
It is obvious that newborns, because of their underdeveloped immune systems, should not 
be exposed to people infected with the influenza virus. It becomes necessary, therefore, for those 
who expect care for newborns to be vaccinated in order not to inadvertently infect such 
newborns with the virus. In order to do this, this bill will require general hospitals with neonatal 
intensive care units to offer vaccines against the influenza virus to those persons who expect to 
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act as caregivers in the household of newborns being treated in such hospital's neonatal intensive 
care unit.
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I This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
I \; 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1839 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM REQUIRING GENERAL HOSPITALS WITH 
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NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS TO OFFER VACCINES AGAINST 
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INFLUENZA VoIRUS TO CERTAIN PERSONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
COllgress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Mandatory Influenza Vaccine 
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Program." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
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welfare of the people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act seeks to safeguard the children's health by 
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requiring hospitals with neonatal intensive care units to offer vaccines against the influenza virus 
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to certain persons who are reasonably expected to act as caregivers in the household of a 
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newborn being treated in such hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. 
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SECTION 3. Mandatory Influenza Vaccine Program; Neonatal Intensive Care Units. -
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Annually between September first and April first, it shall be the duty of the administrative officer 
, 
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or other person in charge of each general hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit to offer to 
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every parent, person in parental relation, and person who is reasonably anticipated to be a 
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caregiver in the household of a newborn being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit 
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vaccination against influenza virus. Such officer or person need not offer the vaccination to 
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persons who have already received such vaccine or for whom it is otherwise inappropriate. 
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Each general hospital shall adopt an influenza immunization policy which shall include, 
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but not be limited to, the following procedures: 
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(A) Identifying the persons to whom vaccination shall be offered; 
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(B) The offering of vaccination; 
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(C) Ensuring that persons offered vaccination receive information regarding the risks and 
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benefits of vaccination; 
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(D) A standing order policy approved by the medical director or other appropriate 
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physician which shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment for contraindications; and 
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(E) A system for documenting vaccine administration, medical contra-indications, 
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patient refusals and any post-vaccination adverse events. 
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SECTION 4. Suspension of the Mandatory Influenza Vaccine Program. - The Secretary 
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of the Department of Health may suspend the implementation of the mandatory influenza 
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vaccine program if there is an actual shortage of influenza vaccines. Such suspension shall not 
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extend beyond thirty (30) days. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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pUblication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
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Approved, 
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