(Eagle News)– The public should continue to trust the government’s vaccine program even with the recent snafu involving its dengue vaccine procured under the Aquino administration.
“Unang una, ang immunization program ng (Department of Health) ay talagang napaka-mahalaga nito sapagkat napatunayan na ng ilang dekada na ang bakuna ay talagang..naililigtas ang mga bata, ang mga sanggol mula sa mga vaccine-preventable diseases,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in an interview over dzbb.
He gave the assurance the government would be “transparent” in its probe into the procurement of Dengvaxia, which Sanofi, the vaccine manufacturer, said could cause “serious cases” in the long run in people who haven’t contracted dengue beforehand.
Thousands of children have availed of the vaccine under Asia’s first public dengue vaccine program launched by then-Health Secretary Janette Garin in April 2016.
The program was stopped in mid-2016 by former Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, who noted that the vaccine had not been proven safe.
The program, however, subsequently pushed through.
Duque has again put on hold the program following Sanofi’s statement and pending a recommendation from the World Health Organization.
“Di komo nagkaroon ng ganitong pangyayari ay mawalan sila ng kumpyansa sa pagiging epektibo ng pangkalahatang immunization program ng (DOH),” Duque said.