By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA
MANILA — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday urged mothers to use their expanded maternity leave in having their newborns immunized.
“So, wala nang rason ang mga nanay na hindi magpabakuna ng kanilang mga anak dahil mayroon na silang mas mahabang maternity leave na (There’s no more reason for mothers not to vaccinate their children as they now have longer maternity leave of) 105 days,” he said in a press briefing.
On Wednesday, the law was signed by the President Rodrigo Duterte. It seeks to grant a 105-day paid maternity leave for expectant working mothers in both public and private sectors, with an option to extend an additional 30 days without pay.
The law also applies to all instances of pregnancies, removing the four-pregnancy cap under the present law.
In an earlier interview, Duque said babies can already receive the first doses of important vaccines from their birth up to two months.
“Nanawagan ako sa mga nanay dahil napalawig ang inyong maternity leave pwedeng-pwede na ninyong dalhin ang mga anak ninyo sa (I’m calling on all moms because your maternity leave has been expanded you can now bring your children to the) health centers,” he said.
