WHEREAS,
the Child is one of the most important assets of the nation and every
effort should be exerted to promote his welfare and enhance his
opportunities for a useful and happy life;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, the Child can be protected against death, disease, and
disability through an integrated and comprehensive basic immunization
program for infants and children below eight years of age;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, immunization against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus,
pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, and other diseases is
proven and universally applied and generally accepted to be efficient,
safe, and economical measures against the morbid and devastating
effects of these diseases on infants and children; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, the Department of Health has the necessary resources for
nationwide BCG Vaccination and resources can be developed for other
immunizations to meet the needs for preventive services for infants
and children;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby
decree and order the following:cralaw:red
Section 1. Coverage. — Basic immunization against
certain diseases shall be compulsory for infants and children below
eight years of age;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 2. Scope. — Basic immunization services shall
include: (a) BCG Vaccination against tuberculosis; (b) Inoculation
against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis; (c) Oral poliomyelitis
immunization; (d) Protection against measles; (e) Immunization against
rubella; and (f) such other basic immunization services for infants and
children below eight years of age which the Council for the Welfare of
Children may recommend to the Secretary of Health.
Section 3. Implementation by the Department of
Health. — The Department of Health shall provide free basic
immunization services under this Decree, subject to rules and
regulations as the Secretary of Health shall issue on the immunization,
ages, schedules, procedures, and available resources to carry out the
purposes of this Decree.
Section 4. Responsibility of Parents, the Guardian,
or Person Having Custody of the Infant or Child. — It shall be the duty
of the parents, guardian, or person having custody of the infant or
child to see to it that such infant or child is presented for basic
immunization services at such place and time as specified by the
Department of Health.
Section 5. Responsibility of the Head of a School or
Institution. — The head of an institution where infants or children are
educated, treated, cared for, or committed by law for preventive or
rehabilitative services shall provide basic immunization services:
Provided, that arrangements may be made by the said institution with
the Department of Health for free immunization services.
Section 6. Immunization of School Entrants. — It
shall be the duty of all schools, public and private, to provide basic
immunization services to all pre-school and primary school entrants who
have not received such immunization, subject to rules and regulations
as the Secretary of Health may promulgate.
Section 7. Penalty. — Violations of any provision of
this Decree shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding one month
or a fine not exceeding two hundred pesos, or both such fine and
imprisonment at the discretion of the court, unless a higher penalty is
provided for in the Revised Penal Code or special laws.
Section 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws or any parts
of any laws inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of
this Decree is held invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby
shall continue in operation.
Section 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Decree shall
take effect upon its approval.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 16th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred
and seventy-six.
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