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[av_heading heading=’Dengvaxia effect: DOH ‘ready for worst case’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Monday, December 4, 2017
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MANILA – Health officials are ready to respond to cases of worsened dengue resulting from exposure to the vaccine Dengvaxia.
The Department of Health (DOH) took precautions against potential errors after the Philippines became the first country to use the vaccine in 2016, spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said.
The agency “is prepared for the worst-case scenario,” Tayag said. “The DOH is careful to only implement the scheme in areas where dengue was already widespread and has only given it to children aged 9 or older.”
“Those who were administered with the vaccine are being followed up for adverse effects,” Tayag added. “So far, we have not received reports of worsened infection among those children.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Winston Castelo (Quezon City) filed a resolution urging the House health committee to investigate the DOH’s dengue vaccination program during the term of Janette Garin as secretary.
The probe will determine who should be held accountable and how the risks on the vaccinated children can be mitigated, Castelo said in a press statement.
The DOH spent P3.5 billion and injected almost 800,000 children with a vaccine whose long-term safety had not been completely established, he said.
“The program appears to have been rushed – without a complete assessment of the vaccine’s risks and benefits,” he said. “Obviously it has led not only to waste of government resources but also a great risk to health and life of children.”
According to Castelo, the DOH “failed to consider the long-term impact of the vaccine because it did not wait for the results and analysis of the six years of clinical trials before deciding to go on a massive vaccination program.”
Unless a compelling reason outweighs the risks, a mass immunization program using a new vaccine should wait for complete results and analysis of long-term clinical data, he said./PN
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