Pimentel files bill seeking to repeal Health chief’s power to choose vaccines

(Eagle News) — Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III has proposed a repeal of the Secretary of Health’s power to “include vaccines in the mandatory basic immunization program” of the government.

Pimentel’s proposal was contained in Senate Bill No. 1743, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10152 or the “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011.”

RA 10152, Pimentel said, was aimed at “protect(ing) infants and children against common and vaccine-preventable diseases” but  also gave the Secretary of Health the “unfettered discretion.”

Under Pimentel’s bill, “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 was necessary.”

In seeking for the repeal, Pimentel said the Dengvaxia case has made it “painfully clear” to Filipinos that there was “the danger of relying on the wisdom of one individual on a matter as vital as the health of our children…”

Janette Garin has admitted to implementing the controversial program when she was health secretary, citing what she said was the rise in dengue cases at that time.

 

“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,” Pimentel said.