Medicine

Ex-pres. Aquino faces Dengvaxia probe at House

March 01, 2018 09:32·
MANILA. Dengvaxia is the first approved anti-dengue vaccine in the world. It is manufactured by French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur

MANILA. Dengvaxia is the first approved anti-dengue vaccine in the world. It is manufactured by French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur

As to Aquino's alleged complicity, the complaint stated he met with Sanofi officials overseas "and juggled funds and authorized the release of a total of P3.55-billion" for the procurement of the vaccine within the 45-day election ban.

To note, the DOH's dengue vaccine program, which started in April 2016, has involved over 830,000 children before it was suspended on December 1, 2017.

Despite the plan of the Department of Health (DOH) to file a case against Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, the pharmaceutical company remains firm on its decision to decline the health department's Dengvaxia-related requests.

Reacting to this, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said if the issue is indeed politicized, it is "certainly not because of the President".

Aquino noted that it was only in November 2017 that Sanofi had issued an advisory that the use of the vaccine to those who have not acquired the dengue virus before might cause serious health problems later.

"We have not received any formal document in relation to the civil case to be filed by the Department of Health in relation to the company's response to the second request to refund the government for the used doses of Dengvaxia", Sanofi said in a statement. As mentioned in our reply letter to the DOH, we stand firmly behind our product. "And at this time, there is also no known circumstance requiring indemnification", it added.

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Sanofi is facing a civil suit after it refused to refund P1.6 billion worth of used vials and set up an indemnification fund for the alleged victims of the vaccine.

In previous hearings, health experts have clarified that although some children vaccinated with Dengvaxia have died, these cases could not yet be directly attributed to the vaccine, and further studies should be conducted to prove otherwise.

Aside from Aquino, other respondents named in the complaint were former Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad; former Health Secretary Janette L. Garin; incumbent Health Undersecretaries Carol Tanio, Gerardo Bayugo, Lilibeth David and Mario Villaverde; former retired undersecretaries Nemesio Gako, Vicente Belizario Jr. and Kenneth Hartigan-Go; assistant secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and Nestor Santiago; former financial management service director Laureano Cruz; incumbent Department of Health (DOH) directors Joyce Ducusin, May Wynn Belo, Leonila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay, Ariel Valencia and Julius Lecciones; and Garin's former executive assistant Yolanda Oliveros.

He added that this was authorized under the "release and use of funds" provision provided "that the president will augment an efficient item of appropriation".

Health reform advocate Anthony Leachon said the former President could not be faulted if he was given "misleading" information on the vaccine.

"Charges should be filed starting with former President Aquino and his cabal of officials who rushed the mass vaccination of mostly poor children".

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