A BILL seeking to provide free vaccines for infectious diseases for senior citizens was filed at the House of Representatives on Monday.
House Bill (HB) No. 11055 proposes that the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) administer free vaccines against flu, whooping cough and herpes, while also including cervical cancer and tetanus vaccines under the suggested health program.
“Many diseases can have severe or even fatal effects on older adults, whose immune systems often become weaker as they age,” Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, who authored the bill, said in a statement.
“That’s why vaccines are so important to prevent these illnesses, especially if they are made free and more accessible for all our senior citizens,” he added.
The measure’s goal aligns with the 2019 Universal Health Care Law, he said, noting the need to expand healthcare services for the elderly amid their increasing population. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
