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Wednesday, December 6, 2017
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THE Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine controversy is fast spreading like a virus. It has the makings of a public health crisis if not addressed effectively.
Yesterday, the Food and Drugs Administration suspended the sale, distribution and marketing of Dengvaxia. Pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur disclosed Dengvaxia poses potential risk to those who have never had dengue but were vaccinated.
As the controversy unfolds, the news is getting worse. On Monday, in a press conference, Dr. Ng Su Peing, global medical head of Sanofi, said they released the vaccine commercially because clinical data at the time of licensing showed it was safe and effective. Sanofi representatives clarified, however, that continued tests over the years showed those who got the vaccine for preventive purposes – or those who had not been infected before – still faced the risk of getting severe dengue.
What? We are getting the impression that those prior clinical tests were not enough but the vaccine was still released commercially anyway. This is unacceptable. It is irresponsible. It is reckless.
Former Department of Health undersecretary Susan Pineda Mercado ripped health officials and Sanofi for exposing people to a severe infection. On her Facebook page, she wrote: “This is the biggest government funded clinical-trial-masked-as-a-public-health-program scam of an experimental drug in the history of the DOH. And it cost the Philippines P3 B (3 billion pesos, or about $70 million) for the vaccines and so much more now for the risks, anxiety and even lives that are now endangered. This was reckless and irresponsible from the start and the public was deceived into thinking this vaccine would protect children from dengue.”
Yes, the government must get to the bottom of this mess. The investigation must leave no stone unturned. This is not just about the P3.5 billion spent to buy the vaccine. The lives of nearly a million children are at risk. Tough questions must be asked and answered. It’s not enough to say sorry.
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