Duque: There’s no excuse not to have kids vaccinated

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said mothers should take advantage of the new law extending maternity leave to have their kids vaccinated.

“Wala ng rason ang mga nanay na hindi magpabakuna ang mga anak kasi meron na tayong mas mahabang maternity leave (There is no more reason for mothers not to have their children vaccinated because we now have an expanded maternity leave),” Duque told reporters after a press conference on the Universal Health Care Law at the Department of Health (DOH) Office.

The Health Secretary was referring to the Expanded Maternity Leave Act which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday.

The law mandates 105 days of paid maternity leave with the option to extend for 30 days without pay. An additional 15 days of leave will also be offered to solo mothers.

READ: Duterte signs into law longer maternity leave benefits

Duque said the law will allow mothers to bring their children to health facilities for vaccination.

“Ito nananawagan ako sa mga nanay dahil napalawig napahaba yung maternity leave pwedeng pwede niyo na madala yung anak ninyo sa bakunahan (I am calling on mothers to have your children vaccinated because we now have an expanded maternity leave),” he said.

Under the law, female workers in the public and private sectors are entitled to 105 days of paid leave credits, regardless of the type of childbirth.

The current law offers a 60 days paid maternity leave for normal childbirth and 78 paid days for cesarean delivery. /ee