By Moira Encina
Eagle News Service
Victims of the Dengvaxia snafu will now receive free legal assistance from the Public Attorneys Office.
According to PAO Chief Atty. Persida Acosta, this was after Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre issued Department Order No. 792 authorizing PAO lawyers to represent the victims in civil, criminal and administrative cases stemming from Dengvaxia-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.
“The order takes effect immediately and shall remain in force until revoked,” Aguirre said in the order dated December 12, 2017.
According to Acosta, the PAO has begun getting the statements of families whose children are believed to have died after being administered the controversial vaccine.
Examples of these are the statements of the parents of Christine Mae De Guzman and Anjielica Pestilos who died of severe dengue after being vaccinated under the government’s dengue vaccination program.
In a press briefing, Nelson de Guzman said that after being administered the vaccine in April 2016, his then-11-year-old daughter experienced headaches and stomachaches.
She died on Oct. 15, 2016.
The Dengvaxia snafu started after Sanofi, the drug manufacturer, admitted it could cause “severe cases” in those who have not had dengue before.
In its defense, Sanofi said the information came to light only recently.
Over 800,000 schoolchildren were vaccinated under the government’s dengue vaccination program that began during the term of then-President Benigno Aquino III.
Aquino has said that he only acted in the interest of the country when his government procured the vaccine.