Manila: A party-list lawmaker has introduced legislation to provide free vaccines against infectious diseases to all senior citizens in the country. Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee filed House Bill No. 11055, known as the proposed Safeguarding Seniors: Free Immunization Act. According to Philippines News Agency, the measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, which currently limits free vaccinations to indigent seniors. Under Lee's proposal, senior citizens will receive free immunization not only for influenza and pneumococcal disease but also for pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diphtheria, and other diseases as deemed necessary by the Department of Health (DOH). Lee emphasized the cultural importance of caring for the elderly in the Philippines, stating that Filipinos greatly value their grandparents and parents who cared for and raised them. He highlighted that senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases due to weakened immune syst ems and stressed the importance of vaccines in preventing these diseases. Lee also pointed out the economic burden of healthcare on seniors, noting that many fear falling ill due to their inability to afford treatment or hospitalization. This fear often leads them to avoid seeking medical attention, he explained. The proposed bill aligns with the objectives of Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, which promotes free treatment and medicine for all Filipinos. Lee asserted that the bill is in line with the government's broader commitment to protecting the health and well-being of the elderly, promoting their right to healthcare, and ensuring that they live healthier, longer lives.