DOH Under PNoy Admin Gave Dengue Vaccine to 700,000 Filipino Children Without WHO Recommendation

The Department of Health (DOH) under the administration of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III gave the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia to more than 700,000 Filipino children, even without the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO). This is according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday, December 1.



“As of now, ang nakukuha ng first dose sa Regions 3, 4-A, NCR, umabot ng 733,713 doses or children ages 9 and above. So ‘yan ang pinakahuling datos natin mula November 7, 2017,” Secretary Duque said in a press conference, noting that the government has already temporarily stopped the dengue vaccination program due to health concerns.

"Pinahinto muna natin. We're putting on hold ang dengue vaccination program hanggang magkaroon tayo ng rekomendasyon mula sa expert panel ng WHO—World Health Organization—na sa kasalukuyang tinutugunan itong advisory mula sa Sanofi Pasteur," Duque added, after Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur issued a health warning.

"Based on up to 6 years of clinical data, the new analysis evaluated long-term safety and efficacy of Dengvaxia in people who had been infected with dengue prior to vaccination and those who had not. The analysis confirmed that Dengvaxia provides persistent protective benefit against dengue fever in those who had prior infection." Sanofi said in a press statement.

Must Read: * 12-Year Old Girl Who Received Dengue Vaccine Under PNoy Admin Now in ICU due to Dengue

"Vaccination should only be recommended when the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. For individuals who have not been previously infected by dengue virus, vaccination should not be recommended," it added, noting that more cases of severe disease could occur to people who have not previously infected by dengue virus.

The P3.5-billion dengue vaccine program was launched back in April 2016, and is the world’s first such program. Each student was given three doses of the vaccine. That time, health experts had already raised the alarm for the “rushed” implementation of the mass vaccination. In addition, studies on the vaccine’s safety have not yet been completed.



As a defense, former Health Secretary Janette Garin said also on Friday that the government's dengue vaccination program under the Aquino administration was conducted in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines. She added that the implementation was based on the recommendations of experts and was in line with WHO.

Contributed by Salvi Dalida