DOH to convene “independent dengue expert panel” within the week

Panel to review data on controversial Dengvaxia vaccine

(Eagle News) —  The Department of Health announced on Tuesday that it would convene an independent dengue expert panel within the week to look into data on the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the decision to convene the panel was made because of the latest update from the World Health Organization.

The WHO recently affirmed Sanofi Pasteur’s statement that said that those with no prior dengue infection and who were administered the vaccine could be at “higher risk of more severe dengue and hospitalizations.”

“This risk persisted about five years after the first dose,” Duque said.

According to Duque, apart from data collated from  Sanofi Pasteur’s five-year observation period in clinical trialsl, data from the surveillance of the Food and Drug Administration and the DOH Epidemiology Bureau would be covered by the review.