Thumbs down, however, mandatory vaccination
(Eagle News)—The Palace has directed the Department of Health to intensify its information drive on the government’s vaccination programs following the measles outbreak in some parts of the country, including Metro Manila.
In a statement, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, however, shot down proposals to make vaccination mandatory for children.
According to Nograles, intensifying the information drive was in accordance with Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) 10152, or the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011, which says that “the DOH, other government agencies, nongovernment organizations, professional and academic societies, and local government units shall make available appropriate information materials and shall have a system of its distribution to the public.”
Section 3 of the law, on the other hand, says the government should provide immunization “for free at any government hospital or health center to infants and children up to five years of age.”
“So it is clear in the law that we need to mobilize the entire government machinery, as well as our partners in the health sector, to inform the public that immunization is provided for free by the government, that it is safe, and that this is needed to protect the lives and health of children all over the country,” Nograles said.
He said “this is the only way to address the current measles outbreak, abate its spread in more areas, and prevent the occurrence of another one in the future.”
Apart from Metro Manila, a measles outbreak was declared in Ilocos Region, Bicol, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, among others.
