Providing for Compulsory Basic Immunization for Infants and Children Below Eight Years of Age

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Presidential Decree No. 996

Compulsory Basic Immunization for Infants and Children Below Eight Years of Age

- Coverage (Section 1):
• Basic immunization against certain diseases shall be compulsory for infants and children below eight years of age.

- Scope of Basic Immunization Services (Section 2):
• BCG Vaccination against tuberculosis. (Section 2a)
• Inoculation against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. (Section 2b)
• Oral poliomyelitis immunization. (Section 2c)
• Protection against measles. (Section 2d)
• Immunization against rubella. (Section 2e)
• Other basic immunization services recommended by the Council for the Welfare of Children to the Secretary of Health. (Section 2f)

- Implementation by the Department of Health (Section 3):
• The Department of Health shall provide free basic immunization services under this Decree, subject to rules and regulations issued by the Secretary of Health on immunization, ages, schedules, procedures, and available resources.

- Responsibility of Parents, Guardian, or Person Having Custody (Section 4):
• It shall be the duty of the parents, guardian, or person having custody of the infant or child to present the infant or child for basic immunization services at the place and time specified by the Department of Health.

- Responsibility of the Head of an Institution (Section 5):
• 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 or make arrangements with the Department of Health for free immunization services.

- Immunization of School Entrants (Section 6):
• All schools, public and private, shall provide basic immunization services to all pre-school and primary school entrants who have not received such immunization, subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health.

- Penalty (Section 7):
• 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.

- Repealing Clause (Section 8):
• All laws or any parts of any laws inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

- Separability Clause (Section 9):
• If any provision of this Decree is held invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue in operation.

- Effectivity Clause (Section 10):
• This Decree shall take effect upon its approval.