Govt urged to probe death of doctor inoculated with Dengvaxia

THE Coalition for People’s Right to Health (CPRH) urges the government to pursue a thorough investigation on the death of Kendrick Gotoc, a medical doctor who received three doses of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Though the cause of death has yet to been proven, the group believes that it is the government’s duty to examine or review the cause of death since its symptoms are similar to previous cases exhibited by past deaths being linked to the Dengvaxia program.

“The autopsy findings of Dengvaxia-linked deaths are consistent to what Dr. Gotoc experienced, thus the public would truly be highly suspect of the interrelation of Dengvaxia with the reported cause of death of these patients,” said Eleanor Jara, co-convener of CPRH.

For the group, it is the government’s duty to investigate and truly and honestly rule-out Dengvaxia as a cause for the deaths and not simply belittling legitimate concerns of other individuals if the DoH wants the public's confidence in vaccines to return.

“The DoH and the Duterte government must feel the urgency to investigate the deaths and prepare appropriate response measures especially for those that are reported to be seronegative upon receiving the Dengvaxia,” Jara added.

Launched in 2016, the CPRH is a broad formation that brings together service oriented groups, individuals, non-government organizations, academic institutions, religious groups involved in health ministry, grassroots health activists, patients’ organizations and people’s organizations nationwide.