Philippines orders dengue vaccine probe

MANILA: The Philippines ordered a probe yesterday into the immunisation of more than 730,000 children with a vaccine for dengue that has been suspended following an announcement by French drug company Sanofi that it could worsen the disease in some cases.

A non-governmental organisation in the Philippines said it had received information that three children who were vaccinated with dengvaxia in April 2016 had died, but Sanofi said no deaths had been reported as a result of the scheme.

“As far as we know, as far as we are made aware, there are no reported deaths that are related to dengue vaccination,” Ruby Dizon, medical director at Sanofi Pasteur Philippines, said.

Last week, the Philippines’ Department of Health halted the use of dengvaxia after Sanofi said it must be strictly limited due to evidence it can worsen the disease in people not previously infected.

Nearly 734,000 children aged nine and above in the Philippines have received one dose of the vaccine as part of a programme that cost 3.5 billion pesos (RM282 million).

The Department of Justice yesterday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into “the alleged danger to public health ... and if evidence so warrants, to file appropriate charges”.

There was no indication Philippines health officials knew of any risks when they administered the vaccination.

However, World Health Organisation said in a July 2016 paper that “vaccination may be ineffective or may theoretically even increase the future risk of hospitalised or severe dengue illness in those who are seronegative at the time of first vaccination regardless of age”. – Reuters