Another death due to dengue vaccine reported

Another death involving a student inoculated with the newly developed dengue vaccine has been reported to the House of Representatives.

Bataan Rep. Jose Enrique lll told the committee on health that 10-year-old Christine Mae de Guzman, a resident of Barangay Breakwater Sisiman in Mariveles town, died in October. The girl received the first dose of Dengvaxia on April 6.

Enrique presented to the committee the medical report of the Bataan Provincial Hospital where De Guzman died four days after she was confined due to high fever and difficulty of breathing.

The committee on health chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan conducted an inquiry into the procurement and efficacy of the vaccine, which is worth more than P3 billion.

Tan, a doctor, said the deaths highlight the need to subject the vaccine to additional and extensive testing and evaluation.

Two students from Bataan and Bulacan also died after receiving their first dose of the vaccine.

The Department of Health (DOH) had targeted Central Luzon as the pilot area for the first wave of inoculations.

Sanofi Pasteur, which supplied the vaccine, has repeatedly asserted that its product is safe and efficacious.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial reported what she called “red flags” in the procurement of Dengvaxia and the launching of the schoolbased vaccination program.

Ubial said the procurement process and program implementation were rushed.

Officials from the Food and Drug Administration told the committee that Sanofi continues to air advertisements on the vaccine despite their appeal to postpone the promotional campaign.

The House panel said it also heard conflicting findings and interpretations from medical experts and scientists.