SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_) 18 wR13 PSS
Second Regular Session )

SENATE “ f=
S. B. No. 743

Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel II

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10152, OR THE
“MANDATORY INFANTS AND CHILDREN HEALTH
IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 2011”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 10152, or the “Mandatory Infants and
Health Immunization Act of 2011” was enacted to address the
then-growing number of newborns and children infected with the
hepatitis-B virus. In a laudable effort to protect infants and
children against common and vaccine-preventable diseases, the
law mandated immunization for hepatitis-B and seven other
diseases, among them tuberculosis, tetanus, measles, and mumps.
The law also gave unfettered discretion to the Secretary of Health
to determine such other types of vaccines that may be included in
the mandatory basic immunization program. It is this latter feature
of the law that this bill seeks to address.

In light of the ongoing controversy over the dengue vaccine,
what has become clear is that the Secretary of Health has the
power to overrule reservations of other experts as regards what
vaccines should be administered to our children. The danger of
relying on the wisdom of one individual on a matter as vital as the
health of our children has been made painfully clear to us all.

Hence, this bill proposes to repeal the Secretary of Health’s
power to include vaccines in the mandatory basic immunization
program. Any proposal to add other types of vaccines to those
enumerated in the law must be made before Congress, which shall
amend the law if it agrees that the proposed addition is necessary.
For the sake of our children—and the sake of our health officials,



too—the responsibility of deciding what vaccines our children are
required to receive should not be borne by one person alone.

For the foregoing reason, speedy passage of this measure is
earnestly sought.

AQUILINO “KOKO” PIMENTEL IIL



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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) Tein
Second Regular Session ) R13 ey

SENATE REC _
S. B. No. 1743 /

Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel IIL

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10152, OR THE
“MANDATORY INFANTS AND CHILDREN HEALTH
IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 2011”

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

SECTION 1. Repealing the Discretion of the Secretary of Health
to Augment the List of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Mandatory
Basic Immunization Program. — Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10152,
or the “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of
2011”, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 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;

(ec) Mumps;

(f) Rubella or German measles;

(g) Hepatitis-B; AND

(h) H. Influenza type B (HIB). [; and
Page | of 2



(i) Such other types as may be determined by the Secretary of
Health in a department circular.] x x x x x.”

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations, and issuances inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect immediately upon
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,

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