Lee Pushes for Free Vaccines for All Senior Citizens

Bicolano lawmaker Manoy Wilbert “Wise” Lee has filed a measure that aims to provide free vaccines to all senior citizens, enhancing their protection against infectious diseases and safeguarding their overall health.

House Bill (HB) No. 11055, also known as the “Safeguarding Seniors: Free Immunization Act of 2024,” seeks to amend the current Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.” If passed, the bill would extend the provision of free vaccines to all senior citizens—not just those classified as indigents—as a way to ensure greater access to life-saving immunizations.

The proposed bill includes free vaccines for influenza, pneumococcal disease, and extends to additional vaccines for diseases such as pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diphtheria, and other conditions deemed necessary by the Department of Health (DOH).

“We Filipinos have always held a deep respect and care for our elders—our grandparents and parents who took care of us and built our families. As they age, it’s only right that we care for them and provide them with the proper attention they deserve,” said Lee in support of the bill.

As people age, their immune systems weaken, leaving them more vulnerable to illnesses that can have severe or even fatal effects. Lee emphasized that providing free and accessible vaccines will help prevent such diseases, ultimately improving the quality of life for senior citizens.

“Many older adults live in fear of becoming ill because they worry about becoming a burden to their families, especially with the high costs of medicine and hospital bills. This fear often leads them to ignore their health, avoid check-ups, or simply accept their condition as inevitable,” Lee said.

He stressed that no senior citizen should face these concerns. “It’s the government’s responsibility to ensure that seniors’ health needs are met, and that they don’t have to worry about where to get their vaccines,” he added.

The proposed free vaccination for all senior citizens is in line with the goals of Republic Act 11223, or the “Universal Health Care Act,” which aims to provide universal access to health services for all Filipinos. “This is the vision of the Universal Health Care Law—to make medicine and treatment free and accessible for everyone,” Lee explained.

Lee, a staunch advocate for health reforms, is also focused on monitoring the implementation of other healthcare commitments. Following the House Plenary Debates on the DOH 2025 Budget on September 25, Lee secured important agreements with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). These include a report from the DOH on the availability of medicines and vaccines in DOH-managed and specialty hospitals starting in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Additional commitments include free diagnostic tests like Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, CT scans, MRI, and more as part of outpatient services. PhilHealth has also pledged at least 80% coverage for cancer treatments and heart disease procedures by the end of 2024. Moreover, free optometric services and eyeglasses will be made available, and PhilHealth benefits are set to increase by another 50% this November.

“We are focused on ensuring that the DOH and PhilHealth fulfill their commitments to millions of Filipinos. Health funds allocated for our people should not be reduced or diverted to other programs that don’t address urgent needs,” Lee said.

A dedicated health advocate, Lee also successfully pushed for a 30% increase in PhilHealth benefits earlier this year. This increase, implemented on February 14, included higher coverage for hemodialysis (raising the per-session benefit from PHP 2,600 to PHP 6,350) and an expansion in coverage for breast cancer treatments (from PHP 100,000 to PHP 1.4 million).

Lee’s proposed “Safeguarding Seniors: Free Immunization Act” highlights his continued commitment to ensuring that health services are accessible to all Filipinos, especially the elderly, whose health needs are often overlooked.