By Meanne Corvera
Eagle News Service
The French government never recommended the use of the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia because it did not have the approval of the European Medical Association.
This is according to Senator JV Ejercito, chair of the Senate committee on health, who said this was based on a letter sent to him by the Embassy of the Philippines in the European country.
He said this was why it was a wonder why the Aquino government was pushing for the purchase of the vaccine, which was manufactured by French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur.
He said the government–then under the Aquino administration—even led the injection of up to 700,000 students.
“Their government did not endorse the use of Dengvaxia…These are issues that need to be answered by (the Department of Health),” he said.
The senator also confirmed that on Tuesday, representatives of the World Health Organization will go to the Senate to submit the results of their research about Dengvaxia, as the Senate blue ribbon and health committees gear up for the resumption of hearings on the matter.
Expected in the hearing next week are former Health Secretary Janette Garin, who led the vaccination program in 2016, and the parents of some of those who received the vaccine.
The Dengvaxia snafu started when Sanofi admitted “serious cases” could occur in people who were not afflicted by the virus but were administered the vaccine.
In its defense, Sanofi said the new data came out only recently.