NEEDED JAB TO REBUILD TRUST

An epidemic worse than that caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is the loss of public confidence on the government vaccination program, which is now essential to halt the backlash of the still raging pandemic in the country.

Even if the government puts in place all the preparations for the mass inoculation program, which is scheduled to start anytime soon, the success of the campaign depends on the willingness of the population to accept the serum.

Lately, those implicated in the Dengvaxia scandal, in which the still largely untested anti-dengue formula of French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur was used to immunize 800,000 school children at a cost of P3.5 billion, were making noises about the culpability of those who have damaged the hitherto strong belief of the public on the government health programs.

The Dengvaxia triumvirate of President Noynoy Aquino, his Health Secretary Janette Garin and former Budget Secretary Butch Abad tried to deflect blame to the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), which was merely doing its job in defending the welfare of those adversely affected by the haphazard yellow racket.

The ripples from Dengvaxia were pointed to by Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as having triggered the demand from vaccine manufacturers to require governments to raise indemnification funds that will essentially free giant drug firms from liability from patient reactions on the jab.

Such a situation induces the necessary question of who should be held accountable for the integrity problem that costs the government more money to throw into the vaccine acquisition, while also soothing fears of the public on the perils of getting an anti-Covid-19 shot.

Criminal charges have been sought for the Dengvaxia trio, primarily for conspiracy in the purchase of the P3.5 billion contract.

Charging of those responsible for the ruse will provide a measure of assurance to the public that the cause of the widespread fear won’t be repeated.

At the very least, charges of violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act (RA) 3019, and RA 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, were sought to be slapped against Aquino, Garin, Abad and other officials in the report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which probed the Dengvaxia purchases.

Panel chairman Richard Gordon emphasized the role played by Aquino, saying that he caused the purchase of Dengvaxia and in procuring the drug did not bother to ask his subordinates if it’s safe, efficacious and ethical.

The report indicated that Aquino ordered the purchase of Dengvaxia even if it was not in the 2015 budget, spending P3.5 billion of taxpayers’ money to buy a largely untested drug.

“The greatest sin and transgression of Aquino was to put the lives of Filipino children in grave peril. He simply did not care,” the report noted.

Conspiracy between Aquino and Garin was a given considering the former Department of Health (DoH) chief could not have done the purchases by herself because the expense was not in the 2015 budget.

Garin, on her own, could not release the SARO (Special Allotment Release Order) and NCA (Notice of Cash Allocation) to effect the purchases, the committee said.

Aquino met several times with Sanofi Pasteur executives during the initial stage of the transactions.

Being the highest official of the land, by meeting with the senior vice presidents of Sanofi Pasteur, Aquino sent a strong message or perception that he was dispensing undue patronage, and each time he met with them, the bureaucracy started acting with undue haste, the report said.

Preparations, including simulations on dispensing the cure, which is pivotal to transitioning to the new normal, have all been done and the serum is coming.

Government’s crucial step would be to provide the strongest assurance to the public through a closure of the Dengvaxia saga.

“Even if the government puts in place all the preparations for the mass inoculation program… the success of the campaign depends on the willingness of the population to accept the serum.

“Dengvaxia triumvirate of President Noynoy Aquino, his Health Secretary Janette Garin and former Budget Secretary Butch Abad tried to deflect blame to the Public Attorney’s Office.