(Agence France Presse) — The Department of Health has tapped the Philippine General Hospital to determine whether three deaths were linked to Dengvaxia.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque told reporters the University of the Philippines-run will assemble a panel of medical experts and pathologists to look into the deaths of the three vaccinated children.
“UP-PGH will be providing an independent review and assessment on the probable cause of deaths of cases submitted by the Department of Health,” Duque said, without giving details on the three cases.
More than 830,000 Filipino schoolchildren were injected with the vaccine last year–under then-President Benigno Aquino III’s term—in the world’s first public dengue immunization program.
The government suspended the sale and distribution of the dengue vaccine this month after the French company Sanofi, the manufacturer, warned it could worsen symptoms for people who had not previously been infected.
Earlier this month Duque said the government may ask Sanofi to refund P1.4 billion pesos worth of unused Dengvaxia supplies, set up an “indemnity fund” to cover the hospitalization cost for vaccinated children, and sue the French firm.
The government has monitored 133 cases of children injected with Dengvaxia who were later treated for dengue symptoms, said Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle.
Dengue, a mosquito-borne infection, is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian and Latin American countries, according to the World Health Organization.
More than 176,000 dengue cases were reported in the Philippines last year, according to WHO.