Bill seeking free immunization of senior citizens filed in Senate amid pandemic

A bill seeking to provide free immunization of Filipino senior citizens from various diseases has been filed in the Senate as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the elderly population in the Philippines.

Senator Leila De Lima said her Senate Bill 1641 aims to give the senior citizens free vaccination against the Influenza virus, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussi, Pneumococcal disease, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

"This bill will be the most apt response to the need to safeguard the elderly amidst a pandemic that targets their already vulnerable sector. Instead of merely locking them in their homes, the State must advocate for measures that will ensure the health and safety of the elderly with the least burden on their part," De Lima said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Providing free immunization to all senior citizens will not only give them an added layer of defense, it will also prevent the healthcare system from being overburdened by the influx of the number of cases that could have otherwise been avoided with immunization," she added.

The senator, who leads the Senate committee on social justice and welfare, said the government should acknowledge the great contributions of senior citizens to the society during their prime years.

Citing a 2019 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority, De Lima further said that the country is projected to transition to an aging population between 2025-2030. -MDM, GMA News