Malacañang has assured the public that those responsible in the P3.5-billion dengue vaccine fiasco it called a “shameless public health scam” will be held accountable.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said those behind the botched dengue immunization program will be held responsible and that the Department of Health is now closely monitoring those who have received the Dengvaxia vaccine.
The DoH has suspended the program after manufacturer French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur warned that it could worsen the disease in some cases.
“We will leave no stone unturned in making those responsible for this shameless public health scam which puts hundreds of thousands of young lives at risk accountable,” Roque said.
At least 700,000 learners have been received the vaccine.
“The Department of Health is now working in close coordination with the Department of Education to monitor the thousands of students who have been administered with Dengvaxia,” Roque said.
Malacañang assured parents of the learners that no case of severe dengue infection as a result of the vaccine has been recorded by the DoH.
“We understand the concern of our people, especially the parents and the relatives of public elementary children residing in Regions 3, 4-A, and NCR, where the dengue vaccination initiative was launched by the previous administration,” Roque said.
“We assure the public that as per the DoH there is currently no reported case of severe dengue infection to the individuals who received one dose of dengue vaccine last year,” he added. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
