Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. 4483

Introduced by REP. RUTH MARIANO-HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MANDATORY IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM, REPEALING FOR THE
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10152, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “MANDATORY
INFANTS AND CHILDREN HEALTH IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 2011”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to bolster the government's efforts towards disease prevention by
expanding the mandatory immunization program for all life stages in effect replacing
the Mandatory Infants and Health Immunization Act of 2011 (Republic Act 10152).

This is a refiled version of House Bill 8558 authored by Rep. Angelina Tan that was
passed on third reading in the 18th Congress. Due to lack of time, it was not passed into
law. Among the key provisions of this measure are the following:

(1) creation ofa National Immunization Technical and Advisory Group (NITAG) that will
serve as the technical and independent multi-disciplinary advisory body to the
Department of Health (DOH) on immunization and vaccine for all life stages;

(2) inclusion of Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis-B, Human
Influenza Type-B, Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
(PCV), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and boosters for Measles, Rubella, Tetanus,
Diphtheria (MRTD), in the list of mandatory vaccine-preventable diseases;

(3) provision of free vaccines in government hospitals or facilities, any public school or
community under its school-based or community-based immunization program;

(4) inclusion of mandatory immunization services in PhilHealth's benefit package; and,

(5) mandatory DOH to continuing education and information campaigns on the
importance of basic immunization.

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


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4483

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by REP. RUTH MARIANO-HERNANDEZ

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MANDATORY IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM, REPEALING 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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory Immunization Program
Act”,

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - In accordance with Article II, Section 15 of the
Constitution, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to take a proactive role in the
preventive health care of all Filipinos. Towards this end, the State shall adopt a
comprehensive, mandatory and sustainable immunization program for vaccine-
preventable diseases.

SEC. 3. National Immunization Program. - There is hereby established a National
Immunization Program under the Department of Health (DOH), which shall ensure that
the population is equitably protected from vaccine-preventable diseases that can cause
disability or death through an integrated and comprehensive immunization program for
all life stages, in accordance with this Act.

SEC. 4. Coverage. - The mandatory immunization provided under this Act shall cover the
following vaccine-preventable diseases:

(a) Tuberculosis;

(b) Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis;
(c) Poliomyelitis;

(a) Measles;

(e) Mumps;

(0 Rubella or German measles;

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(g) Hepatitis-B;

(h) H. Influenza type B (HIB);

(i) Rotavirus;

(j) Japanese encephalitis;

(k) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV);

(1) Human papilloma virus (HPV);

(m) Booster for Measles, Rubella, Tetanus, Diphtheria (MRTD)

(n) Such other types as may be determined by the Secretary of Health upon
the recommendation of the National Immunization Technical and Advisory
Group (NITAG) established under Section 6 of this Act and after a separate
or joint public hearing conducted by the Committee on Health and
Demography of the Senate of the Philippines and the Committee on Health
of the House of Representatives: Provided, That when there is a pandemic
and when the Congress of the Philippines is not in session, the said public
hearings need not be conducted.

‘The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall include the mandatory
immunization services specified under this Act in its benefit package. However, such
other types under Section 4 (n) shall undergo evaluation by the Health Technology
Assessment Council pursuant to Republic Act 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal
Health Care Act’, before its inclusion in the benefit package.

SEC. 5. Administration of Vaccines. - The vaccines shall be administered for free in any
government hospital or health facility, and in any public school or community under its
school-based or community-based immunization program, and in any private health
facility if such is included in the PhilHealth benefit package.

The DOH, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Department of
Interior and Local Government, shall undertake a school-based and community-based
immunization program. The DOH shall determine the vaccines suitable for the various
age groups from the list enumerated in Section 4 under this Act.

Hepatitis-B vaccine shall be administered by any duly licensed physician, nurse or
midwife to infants born in hospitals, health infirmaries, health centers or lying-in centers
with obstetrical and pediatric services, whether public or private, within twenty-four
(24) hours after birth: Provided, however, That in cases of infants born in places other
than the above, any duly licensed physician, nurse or midwife who delivers or assists in
the delivery of the newborn, shall be responsible for administering the vaccine to the
latter: Provided, further, That for deliveries assisted by persons other than the health
professionals mentioned above, the infant should be brought to any available health care
facility to be immunized against Hepatitis-B within twenty-four (24) hours but not later
than seven (7) days after birth: Provided, finally, That subsequent doses of the Hepatitis
B vaccine shall be completed according to the recommended schedule of Hepatitis-B

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immunization to be provided in the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH to
implement this Act.

SEC. 6. Creation of the National Immunization Technical and Advisory Group. ~ A
National Immunization Technical and Advisory Group (NITAG) shall be created to serve
as a technical and independent multi-disciplinary advisory body to provide evidence-
based policy and program decisions on immunization and vaccines to the DOH. The
NITAG shali be composed of experts from the fields of pediatrics, infectious diseases,
epidemiology, public health, health economy and from affiliate agencies such as the
Formulary Executive Council, Food and Drug Administration, Philippine Nurses
Association, Philippine Pharmacists Association, Inc, and the National Institutes of
Health.

The NITAG shall have the following functions:

a) To advise the DOH in the formulation of policies, plan and strategies for
research and development of the existing and new vaccines, and the vaccine
delivery technology;

b) To conduct policy analysis, review of the program data and evidence in order
to provide evidence-based technical advice and recommendations for the
development of appropriate and sustainable immunization policies, guidelines,
strategies, and approaches related to Immunization Program and vaccine delivery
technology; and

©) To review the position papers, studies, international guidelines and
recommendations from internationally acknowledged resources for possible
adoption in the country policies and plans for NITAG.

SEC. 7. Education and Information campaign. - All health care practitioners or health
care workers who are administering prenatal care shall educate all pregnant mothers on
the importance of immunization through vaccination in safeguarding infant health and
well-being as well as on the possible effects of immunization.

The DOH, other government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs),
professional and academic societies, and local government units (LGUs) shall make
available appropriate information materials and shall institute an efficient public
information dissemination system to increase awareness on the importance of
immunization as a disease prevention strategy.

SEC. 8. Obligation to Inform. - Any physician, nurse, midwife, nursing aide or skilled
birth attendant, who delivers or assists in the delivery of a newborn shall, prior to
delivery, inform parents or legal guardian of the newborn of the availability, nature and
benefits of immunization against Hepatitis-B and other vaccine-preventable diseases at
birth.

SEC. 9. Continuing Education and Training of Health Personnel. - The DOH shall, with
the assistance of the LGUs, academe, professional societies and NGOs, undertake
continuing information, education and training programs for all health personnel on the
rationale and benefits of, as well as modern procedures for immunization of infants and
children against vaccine-preventable diseases.

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SEC. 10. 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 the request of any of the aforesaid committees of Congress, a report giving a detailed
account of the status of the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations for expanded program on
immunization of the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH shall, in consultation with the
National Immunization Committee, issue the implementing rules and regulations within
ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act shall
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 10152, otherwise known as the
“Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011” is hereby repealed.
Allother laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,