Columnist Getsy Tiglao on Dengvaxia: Someone has to answer for this

Getsy Tiglao and a child injected with Dengvaxia, photo compiled from Google

Getsy Tiglao, columnist for the Manila Bulletin on her Dec 5 article tackled the issue on the Dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, an apparently dangerous drug injected to thousands of Filipino children, and said that someone needs to answer for what transpired.

Over 730,000 school children were injected with the vaccine since 2016, and the issue arose just recently, after two children who received the first dose passed away.



Sanofi Pasteur, the drug manufacturer admitted the side effects of the drug.

"For those not previously infected by dengue virus, however, the analysis found that in the longer term, more cases of severe disease could occur following vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection," it said in its statement.

The company said that those who have not been previously diagnosed with Dengue should not use the drug.

Tiglao meanwhile, saw the statement as ayn obligator move from the company.

"Sanofi didn’t make the revelation about the flaw in its vaccine out of its love for Filipino schoolchildren. It was legally obligated to do so since Sanofi stock is listed in the European stock exchange, the Euronext, as well as in the New York Stock Exchange," she said.



She said that the Department of Health is  already looking into the issue. She added that the National Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Ombudsman should also look into the case.

Furthermore, the Senate Health and Blue Ribbon Committees are now planning a new probe into the anti-dengue program in light of the admission by Sanofi.

"Senator Richard Gordon was among those who early on had questioned why the purchase was rushed by the previous government, in what he branded in a privilege speech as a “midnight deal.” 

He also questioned why the Philippines is the first one to implement a mass vaccination program, for a new vaccine at that. “Why should we be the guinea pig? We should make sure (first) of its safety,” he said," she wrote.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has pulled the drug out of the market.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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