Garin drags Ona into dengue vaccine controversy
After drawing the flak over the government’s dengue immunization program, former Health Secretary Janette Garin has implicated her predecessor, former Health Secretary Enrique Ona, in the now controversial vaccination activity.
In a television (ANC) interview, Garin said the program, which used the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, was not her decision alone as it was the initiative of Ona way back in 2010. At that time, Garin said, Sanofi Pasteur’s Dengvaxia was the one being considered.
“Hindi po ito decision na ako lang. Hindi po ito sinimulan lang noong pagpasok ko noong 2014. I think June or July, Secretary Ona already announced na magkakaroon ng bakunang dengue by 2015, probably middle, and the department is contemplating on putting it in their public health program, perosinabi rin niya na wala pa 'yung presyo at di pa napag-uusapan (This is not my decision alone. This did not start when I became the DOH chief in 2014. I think June or July, Secre-
tary Ona already announced that there will an anti-dengue vaccination by 2015, probably middle, and the department is contemplating on putting it in their public health program, but he revealed then that there’s no price and negotiation yet),” she said.
“It started during his time,” she maintained.
Former Secretary Ona could not be reached for comment. As of press time, he has not responded to text messages.
Over 830,000 children have already received at least one dose of the vaccine under the government’s immunization program.
But last November 30, Sanofi Pasteur disclosed that Dengvaxia was found to potentially cause increased risk of hospitalization for dengue and severe dengue for those who have not yet infected by the virus.
“The analysis confirmed that Dengvaxia provides persistent protective benefit against dengue fever in those who had prior infection... For those not previously infected by dengue virus, however, the analysis found that in the longer term, more cases of severe disease could occur following vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection,”Sanofi said in a statement.
Dengvaxia, the first dengue vaccine to be licensed after being approved in Mexico back in December 2015, was used in the DOH’s immunization drive.
But after Sanofi’s announcement, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III suspended the government dengue vaccination program.
Garin said she and her child were even vaccinated using Dengvaxia, which was said to be effective to people aged nine years old to 45 years old.
“Kahit kami, galit na galit kami nang malaman naming ang announcement ng Sanofi lalo na noong makita mo severe dengue. Nanay din ako.Anak ko nabakunahan din. Ako nabakunahan din (We are very angry, too, after hearing Sanofi’s announcement, especially when we found out that it will cause severe dengue. I’m a mother, too. My child was also vaccinated. I was vaccinated, as well),” she said.