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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Tuesday, February 27, 2018
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Ex-prez: Leave Dengvaxia to experts
MANILA – Former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III slammed on Monday a “so-called forensic expert” speaking about a controversial dengue vaccine and in effect “sowing fear.”
Critics should let medical experts speak on the Dengvaxia issue, said Aquino, during whose term the government bought the vaccine and approved it for a mass vaccination program.
In a strongly worded opening statement at the House of Representatives’ inquiry into Dengvaxia, Aquino raised doubts on the background of a “noisy” forensic expert speaking on the issue.
“Masakit po nito: Lahat na lang po may opinyon, kwalipikado man o hindi, lalo na po iyong isang maingay na ang certification ay tila isang antas lang ang lamang sa nabibiling diploma sa Recto,” Aquino said.
The former president did not mention a name.
“May nagsiyasat sa certification niya at nagsulat ng artikulo. Galing po ang certification ng maingay na ito sa kwestyunableng kurso kung saan manonood ka lang raw ng video ng isang oras-kalahati, saka mag-exam na open book, at matapos mong magbayad ng 660 dollars ay certified ka na sa forensics,” he added.
Aquino also criticized the fielding of “premature conclusions based on insufficient data” and called on medical experts to speak on the issue that already affects the integrity of other government-led vaccination initiatives.
“Mainam sigurong ipaalala ko na ang bawat opisyal ng pamahalaan, elected man o appointed, ay may oath of office. Bahagi nito nakasaad ang, ‘to uphold and defend the Constitution,’” he said.
“Diin ko po: Sa pagpapakaba, sa paghaka-haka, sa pagpapaduda, tinutupad ba ninyo ang ‘promotion of the general welfare,’ pati na ang ‘protection of life?’” he added. “Silang mga aral at eksperto, sila po ang ating pagsalitain para mapayuhan tayo ng maayos.”
ERFE?
While Aquino did not drop any name, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta came to the defense of PAO forensic expert Dr. Erwin Erfe.
Erfe, a physician-lawyer appointed to PAO in 2004, is very much qualified for his job, Acosta said in an interview.
She said Erfe has a certification in public financial management from John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University.
“Si Dr. Erfe kinukwenstyon ng iba na hindi daw mahusay sa forensics e siya po ay consultant namin since 2003,” Acosta said.
“May certificate po siya sa Harvard. Hindi po naman mabibili ang certificate sa Harvard. Talagang paghihirapan mo po iyan,” she added.
CASES UP
Meanwhile Aquino noted that there is a need to curb the increase of suspected dengue cases in the country, which – according to data from the Department of Health – shot up to 200,415 cases in 2015 from 5,166 in 1995.
There were no “severe” dengue symptoms seen in children inoculated with Dengvaxia, which, according to the World Health Organization, was under Grades 3 and 4 classification, he said.
“Itong mga natalang numero bawat taon ay tinatayang 20 porsyento lang ng tinamaan ng dengue,” said Aquino. “May 80 porsyento na asymptomatic, na ’di man lang nadaramang meron na silang dengue.”
He added: “Kung 200,000 ay 20 porsyento at katumbas ng 80 percent ay 800,000, masasabing ang kabuoang estima ng na-dengue kada taon ay may isang milyong katao.”
The Health department suspended its P3.5-billion dengue immunization drive in December last year after vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur admitted that Dengvaxia could lead to more severe symptoms in those who have not been previously infected.
Around 733,000 public school children 9 years old and above in three highly endemic regions – Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon – have received at least the first of three doses.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever is an acute viral infection that affects infants, young children and adults. It is transmitted via the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito./PN
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