Nothing new
What does the newest study published in the most recent New England Journal of Medicine say about Dengvaxia? Actually, nothing new. The newest study merely confirmed that there was a higher chance of hospitalization due to severe dengue, for seronegative persons that have received the Dengvaxia vaccine. Let's look at their numbers.
If the vaccine is given to one million children aged nine and above, it may prevent 11,000 hospitalizations and 2,500 severe dengue cases. However, it may lead to 1,000 hospitalizations and 500 cases of severe dengue for those who have not yet been exposed to the dengue virus. Based on the study, the vaccine is more effective when the child has had a prior exposure to the dengue virus. Note that there is no data suggesting that receiving the vaccine may cause death. None.
This was also the statement of Sanofi Pasteur last November. Unfortunately, Sanofi's warning came too late, as more than 800,000 children have already received the vaccine from a government-sponsored mass vaccination program. The study shows how important it is to determine prior exposure to dengue, before the vaccine can be administered. Since there is no available test for prior exposure to dengue, the vaccine must be administered with caution. A history of the patient will have to suffice. In countries where dengue is prevalent, many may have already been exposed to dengue without knowing it. But I doubt if anyone would be willing to receive Dengvaxia, after the fear caused by those who sensationalized and politicized the issue. The vaccine in fact is no longer available in the market.
The cases of children who received Dengvaxia and died should be examined carefully. President Duterte himself prefers to have three forensic experts, preferably from Asian countries that also approved Dengvaxia to look into the cases. While only the Philippines implemented a government-sponsored mass vaccination program inAsia, countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam only made Dengvaxia available in the market and for private practice. That may have to suffice. The findings of the forensic experts may put to rest the fears that have arisen not only for Dengvaxia, but for other vaccines as well.
Information is important, not disinformation. If a child has received the vaccination and develops fever, then he should be taken to the hospital right away. On another note, it has been more than two years since hundreds of thousands of children received the vaccine. It would be nice to know if the vaccine did help. Since all we hear is how bad the vaccine is, is there another side to the story? Is there available data on the number of children who contracted dengue even after vaccination, in those places that received Dengvaxia? Did the number of dengue cases increase or decrease compared to the years prior to Dengvaxia? If more than 800,000 have been vaccinated, did the vaccine help? If the DOH knows, then I'm sure the public also wants to know, regardless of the result, regardless of political color. Sanofi will also have to be held accountable for their late warnings, especially with regards to mass vaccinations. Only the Philippines and Brazil implemented a mass Dengvaxia program among the countries that approved its use. There has to be a reason behind that.