Dengvaxia mess depresses teachers, HWs

Many teachers and health workers (HWs) are already suffering from depression because of the Dengvaxia controversy, an organization of health professionals yesterday bared.

“Are officials aware that there are teachers and health workers, who are losing faith in themselves and experiencing symptoms of depression because they couldn’t face their students in shame?” asked Dr. Eleanor Jara, coconvenor Coalition for People’s Right to Health (CPRH), in a press conference in Quezon City.

Jara disclosed that after numerous discussions with teachers and health workers, they learned that many of them are under much stress and guilt as they were the front-liners in the administration of the vaccines.

“Of course, they are feeling guilty because that was not their intention in participating. They only wanted to help,” she said.

With this, they will ask the Department of Health (DOH) to offer psycho-social counseling to those who were directly involved in the mass dengue immunization program.

“We will be making that recommendation to the DOH as we believe they should shoulder that program,” said Jara.

Identify and monitor Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, a member of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, asked yesterday the DepEd to order the identification and monitoring of students immunized with the controversial Dengvaxia (dengue vaccine) to help put parents at ease.

Gatchalian made the call as the government stopped the school and community-based anti-dengue immunization program jointly instituted by the DOH, the DILG, and the DepEd.

Sanofi Pasteur has announced the possible negative effect on children who did not have dengue prior to vaccination.

“Teachers and administrative leaders of all schools involved should join forces in creating a database of students who were immunized with Dengvaxia. Students who are showing symptoms of dengue should immediately be brought to the doctor to prevent future complications,” Gatchalian said. (With a report from Mario B. Casayuran)