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[av_heading heading=’ Dengvaxia probe: Gordon sees conspiracy; Garin denies corruption ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ 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 PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Sen. Richard Gordon saw “strong signs of conspiracy” in the Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine purchase, noting that it seemed like there was a hurry to procure them.
But former Department of Health (DOH) secretary Janette Garin denied allegations of corruption surrounding the P3.4-billion procurement done during her term.
“I am not involved in any corruption and I am willing to be investigated,” said Garin yesterday at the joint hearing of the Senate’s Blue Ribbon and Health committees on the government’s dengue immunization program.
Gordon said his suspicion was fueled by reports that Garin and former President Benigno Aquino III had several meetings with officials of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur and these appeared to have accelerated the procurement process.
According to Garin, however, the government’s anti-dengue vaccination program using Dengvaxia was a decision of DOH as an institution.
“Hindi lang po sa isang tao o sa isang grupo. Ito po ay deka-dekadang pinag-usapan,” insisted Garin.
Garin is doctor by profession. She became a congresswoman representing Iloilo province’s 1st District prior to becoming DOH secretary under the Aquino administration.
Sanofi admitted on Nov. 29 that those who have not been infected by the dengue virus but inoculated with Dengvaxia may have an elevated risk of severe disease developing from a subsequent dengue infection.
“Kung nagsinungaling po ang Sanofi — hindi lang po sa amin, sa ibang bansa at sa WHO (World Health Organization) — ay dapat lang hong managot sila,” Garin said.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is an acute viral infection that affects infants, young children and adults. It is transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes that live and breed in clear, stagnant water.
Over 700,000 public elementary school children have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia since April 2016.
Gordon raised the possibility that the vaccine purchase was supply-driven instead of needs-driven especially because Garin’s May 2015 meeting with Sanofi executives “create(d) a circumstantial connection leading to irregularity.”
“[M]atagal na itong pinag-usapan at pinlano. Hindi lang Pilipinas ang gumawa nito,” Garin said of DOH’s anti-dengue mass vaccination program.
Eleven countries have approved the Dengvaxia vaccine. They are Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guaramela, Indonesia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Garin urged the public to listen to health experts.
“Ilang beses po namin ‘yan tinanong sa World Health Organization Geneva. Ang sinabi nila hindi ito delikado sa hindi pa nagkaka-dengue,” she said.
Garin added: “When a vaccine or drug is licensed, ibig sabihin it is safe. Hintayin natin ang sasabihin ng mga eksperto from WHO Geneva dahil baka pinangungunahan natin.”
She, however, admitted that there was no allocation in the 2015 and 2016 national budgets for the purchase of the anti-dengue vaccine since it would be covered by sin taxes.
The former DOH chief also clarified that it was not the DOH but the Philippine Medical Children’s Center that purchased the vaccines, but noted that she stood by their decision.
Gordon pointed out that the funds used were re-aligned from the savings from Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund pertaining to DOH.
He said realigning the budget without getting approval from Congress required someone “from higher up” to do.
“Kung sakasakali pong sa imbestigasyon niyo, Your Honors, ay meron po akong command responsibility as Secretary of DOH that time, I welcome and I will fully answer whatever it takes at rerespetuhin ko po kung ano man ‘yung inyong magiging desisyon,” said Garin.
Dengvaxia was licensed for use in the Philippines by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2015.
After four months, DOH kicked off its anti-dengue mass vaccination program covering hundreds of thousands of school children in Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Calabarzon.
DOH stopped the vaccination after Sanofi disclosed that those who haven’t had dengue but vaccinated with Dengvaxia may have an elevated risk of severe disease developing from a subsequent dengue infection.
Current DOH secretary Francisco Duque III, in the hearing, assured the public that the agency had raised surveillance on risks that could arise from those who received the vaccine.
According to Garin, “We fully cooperated and consulted with WHO prior to the implementation of this program. With the desire to resolve this deadly virus, the Department started the vaccination program which has until now been seen to be strongly beneficial to nine out of 10 Filipinos.” (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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