A NEOPHYTE Metro Manila lawmaker has filed a measure which aims to provide immunization service to vulnerable and high risk groups during outbreaks, pandemics, epidemics and other unforeseen public health emergencies.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Anthony Peter “Onyx” D. Crisologo said the emergence of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has affected the order of things in many countries.
Crisologo said it has posed all kinds of threat to the general public prompting a wide range of health problems that resulted to the rise of massive socio-economic issues.
He underscored the significance of setting the right priorities to respond to the situation.
Crisologo said House Bill (HB) 7463 seeks to establish a mechanism that immediately protects the general public from potential pandemic, outbreaks and epidemics like COVID-19 caused by new strains of virus.
Through this bill, the government will have a better control of the conditions that the country may experience during health crises and save the most number of lives possible.
In the event that an outbreak, pandemic and epidemic casuse by a new strain of virus emerges like COVID-19, Crisologo said the Department of Health (DoH) shall create an Emergency Immunization Program for vulnerable and high risk sectors to ensure the health of the general public.
The bill also stated upon approval of a vaccine, the ERP shall provide immediate vaccination to the following sectors that includes senior citizens, medical frontliners and people with underlying health conditions that affect their immune system.
The amount necessary for the implementation of the proposed law shall be included on the budget of DoH.
“In times of national emergencies, proactive planning is of great importance for optimizing the countries policies. The creation of an Emergency Immunization Program is to provide for an equitable protection of the people by guaranteeing that the disproportionate chance of vulnerable sectors surviving the virus are promptly remedied through the strategic allocation of the limited fund of the country,” Crisologo.
