By Jerold Tagbo
Eagle News Service
The Department of Health on Friday announced the creation of a task force that will conduct a “thorough review” of the controversial dengue vaccination program started in March 2016 under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the task force was composed of representatives from the DOH Central Office; the DOH regional offices in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon or the three regions where the dengue immunization program was launched in schools; the Food and Drug Administration; the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; and the National Children’s Hospital.
He said the group will also look into the “new evidence on safety provided by Sanofi.”
“This shall guide the (DOH) in responding to the safety concerns relevant to the use of this vaccine and how to proceed with the dengue program to ensure safeguards and prevent similar incidents in the future,” he said, reiterating that the government would demand Sanofi for a reimbursement and that it set up “an indemnification fund to cover the hospitalization and medical treatment for all children who might have severe dengue.”
He said the DOH intends to monitor the vaccinated children–a masterlist of which is currently being updated—for five years.
The department will also hire 30 additional surveillance officers to be deployed in the three regions where the program was conducted, Duque said.
“We will continue to be vigilant in monitoring our children for any adverse event following immunization, and will strengthen the readiness of our public hospitals in attending to any severe dengue cases that may occur,” said Duque.
At present, he said PhilHealth would cover up to P16,000 worth of medical expenses if a child was hospitalized due to severe dengue.