No cause for alarm over vaccine – Sanofi
T here is no cause for alarm over the use of Dengvaxia for the Philippines’ dengue immunization program because the vaccine continues to be safe and effective in providing persistent protection against the dengue infection.
Thomas Triomphe, head of the Sanofi Pasteur for the Asia-Pacific region, gave this assurance at the resumption of the joint hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Committee on Health Thursday.
The focus is on a “worldwide” scare over the Dengvaxia vaccine which continues to be marketed and used in 10 other countries.
Triomphe also made this assurance at an earlier joint hearing by the House of Representatives’ Committees on Health, and of Good Government and Accountability.
He said that it is important for the public to understand that the vaccine continues to be good, effective and safe.
He assured the public that there is no reason to panic.
Triomphe also said Sanofi Pasteur is ready to “collaborate and re-engage” with the Philippines’ Department of Health in contributing to the investigations to be done by the task forces on the review of the government’s dengue immunization program.
Triomphe said newly discovered information about Dengvaxia, which came to light only after almost two years following the registration of the vaccine in the Philippines, show that seronegative persons (those who have not been infected with the dengue virus before) have a 0.02 percent increased risk of getting traditional dengue symptoms.
For seropositive persons (those who have been infected with the dengue virus), who constitute 90 percent of the Philippine population above nine years of age, Dengvaxia “has a sustained and longer protective effect,” Triomphe pointed out.
“It is perhaps because of the clear benefit of sustained protection that, even after the latest findings, healthcare practitioners in countries where Dengvaxia is marketed and used continue to send orders for our vaccine to this very day,” Triomphe said.
“Thus, contrary to some reports, there is no ‘worldwide scare.’ We hope that these facts enlighten your honors and your constituents to the truth – that Dengvaxia is good, safe, and effective and that there is no cause for fear or alarm,” he added.
Even the World Health Organization (WHO) attests to the benefits of Dengvaxia.
In a statement, the WHO said it has found that the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia prevents disease in the majority of vaccine recipients but it should not be administered to people who have not previously been infected with dengue virus.
“This recommendation is based on new evidence communicated by the vaccine’s manufacturer [Sanofi Pasteur], indicating an increase in incidence of hospitalization and severe illness in vaccinated children never infected with dengue,” the statement said.
“The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety considered the company’s new results from clinical trial data analyses,” it added. (With a report from Charina L. Echaluce)