Senate wants another probe on Dengvaxia’s consequences

In order to understand better the medical consequences of Dengvaxia, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography is keen on holding a separate hearing on the controversial 13.5billion dengue vaccination program of the Aquino administration. Senator Joseph Victor

“JV” Ejercito, speaking over DZBB radio Sunday, said it is necessary for medical experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Department of Health (DOH) and other health institutions to speak out on the matter to allay the continuing fears of parents of the 830,000 schoolchildren who were administered the Dengvaxia vaccine.

“Let us give the medical experts, the academe more time to speak on this matter,” Ejercito said in an interview over Radio DZBB.

Ejercito said his committee is waiting for the initial findings of the WHO that conducted an extensive study of vaccines procured by the government from Sanofi Pasteur.

“So it’s possible that we hold a separate hearing on the health aspect of this issue so we can give our health experts that chance and we are also looking forward on what to do,” he said.

“My primary concern are the parents, of course we need to address their anxiety attacks, of course, were talking here of their children,” he said.

Besides, it is the primary duty of the government to monitor and inform the public of the developments on Dengvaxia.

“So on that aspect, we will hold a hearing,” Ejercito said, pointing out that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon pointed too much on the alleged irregularity in the procurement of Dengvaxia.

He also said he hopes that the DOH, now led by Secretary Francisco Duque III, would intensify its information drive on Dengvaxia.

Not yet off the hook

Despite his pronouncement that he did it in good faith, former president Benigno Aquino III is not yet off the hook and may still be held liable for technical malversation for approving the 13.5-billion government deal with Sanofi.

Ejercito said Aquino, and former Secretaries Florencio “Butch” Abad of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Janette Garin of the Department of Health (DOH) have a lot to account for over the speed at which the Executive Branch approved and procured the Dengvaxia vaccines for the government Expanded Program for Immunization or EPI.

Granted that he signed the deal with Sanofi Pasteur believing it may avert a possible dengue outbreak in the country, Ejercito said the former Chief Executive, as the last person to sign the document, should have informed Congress of the Executive’s decision to acquire the medicines, given that it was not part of the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Nobody knew about their purchase and said that at the end of the year, they only used the savings. I don’t think that anybody from Congress is aware of these transactions,” Ejercito said pointing to Garin and Abad’s statement that the 13.5-billion funds were culled from the Miscellaneous and Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF).

Raps possible

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chairman sees graft charges being lodged against the officials responsible for the dengue vaccine mess.

“The hustled purchase of 13.5billion worth of Dengvaxia shots in 2015 may be considered highly detrimental to the government,” Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel said.

Under the law, entering into any contract or transaction that is deemed “manifestly and grossly disadvantageous” to the government constitutes a corrupt and unlawful practice, said Pimentel.

Right thing to do

Meanwhile, Pimentel urged Dengvaxia’s manufacturer, Sanofi to promptly return the 13.5 billion that the Philippine government, through the DOH, paid for the anti-dengue shots.

“This is the right thing for Sanofi to do. The sooner they give us back the money, the better,” he said.

The lawmaker also urged Sanofi to establish an indemnity fund, as proposed by Sec. Duque, to pay for the future hospitalization and treatment of Filipino school-children who may be rendered sick after receiving Dengvaxia shots. (With a report from Ellson A. Quismorio)