By Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
President Duterte has ordered public hospitals to provide free services to children administered with Dengvaxia amid public concerns over the controversial anti-dengue vaccine.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, in a press briefing in Camarines Sur yesterday, revealed that Duterte made the order during his meeting with the Department of Justice, Public Attorney’s Office, and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Thursday night.
According to the Palace official, Duterte assured that the cost of the medical services to be provided to the vaccinated children will be shouldered by the government.
“Inutusan ng Presidente na lahat ng pampublikong ospital ay dapat magbigay ng serbisyo doon sa mga kabataan na naturukan ng Dengvaxia,” Roque said.
“Sasagutin na po ng gobyerno iyong halaga ng paggamot doon sa mga naging biktima ng Dengvaxia,” he added.
In addition, Roque said that Duterte is also open to tapping foreign clinical pathologists to examine suspected Dengvaxia cases, if needed, following calls to order the PAO to stop the autopsies on the victims of the dengue vaccine.
“Dahil sa kakulangan ng clinical pathologist dito sa Pilipinas, eh nagsalita na po ang Presidente na kung kinakailangan, kukuha po tayo ng mga dayuhang mga clinical pathologist para pag-aralan kung itong mga kabataang namamatay ay namatay dahil sa Dengvaxia vaccine,” Roque said.
