Sobriety needed
The Dengvaxia controversy has already started affecting other government vaccination programs. An atmosphere of fear has caused parents to avoid having their children vaccinated, even with established vaccines against polio, tetanus, measles, and diphtheria. In Davao City, a measles outbreak recently occurred. Measles can be easily prevented by vaccination. Government health centers are also being overwhelmed with patients blaming Dengvaxia for a variety of symptoms, some as simple as the common cold. There are even those exploiting the issue, asking for financial or other help, even if it is not really needed.
This is caused by misinformation and ignorance. Health experts, doctors and specialists have asked the Public Attorney's Office to stop conducting autopsies on those who allegedly died due to Dengvaxia. According to medical experts from the UP-PGH, of the deaths of 14 children who received Dengvaxia, none were directly related to the vaccine. Two may have been caused by vaccine failure, which can happen in all vaccines. This is why some still have measles or mumps, even after receiving vaccines in the past. The two deaths may have been caused by dengue, not because of the vaccine itself.
According to PAO, the parents of the children were the ones who approached them to do the autopsies. But autopsies should be conducted by pathologists, and not just general practitioners. Obviously, there is an apparent "turf war" over who is more capable, independent, and authorized to conduct the autopsies. The PAO cites conflict of interest on the part of UP-PGH if they would do the autopsies. Frankly, I believe the parents of those children who died have been conditioned by the pronouncements of both the PAO and the VACC regarding Dengvaxia. Both have immediately put the blame on the previous administration without proving that the vaccine was indeed the cause of death of the children.
The whole issue has been extremely politicized when, in fact, the investigation into the deaths of the children must be made by medical experts. The DOH is calling for sobriety, while investigations are still ongoing with regards to Dengvaxia. Again, I am wondering why there are no similar reports from other countries that continue to use Dengvaxia. Was it established that the batches of vaccines received by the Philippines were bad? If so, then by all means, Sanofi Pasteur must be held liable. The latter has said that if any deaths can be directly attributed to Dengvaxia, then they will answer for it. Again, vaccine failure is different from dying because of the vaccine itself. If a child previously vaccinated for measles contracts the disease and dies, would there be a similar outcry for the heads of those who manufactured the anti-measles vaccine? If several men develop mumps orchitis several years after being vaccinated as a child for mumps, would there be an outcry?
Everybody needs to take a deep breath, step back, and look at this objectively and without political color. It is also noteworthy to find out just how many of the 830,000 persons who have received the vaccine remain asymptomatic or even immune to dengue. The other side of the spectrum needs to be seen, and the public informed as well.