FAST LANE The DOH had designated so-called dengue and听Dengvaxia lanes in hospitals to accommodate victims of the听anti-dengue vaccine. 鈥擫YN RILLON/Philippine Daily Inquirer
A recent study by international doctors about the effects of an anti-dengue vaccine on recipients who have not yet been affected by the disease agrees with the claims of the Public Attorney鈥檚 Office (PAO) against Dengvaxia.
This was the assertion of PAO chief Atty. Persida Acosta, as she cited the study posted on the website of New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on Thursday (Philippine time).
鈥淚 have not read that, ngayon ko lang nalaman 鈥榶an, at nagpapasalamat po ako na meron palang mga doktor na talagang tumutulong,鈥� Acosta said.
NEJM said in its original article titled 鈥淓ffect of Dengue Serostatus on Dengue Vaccine Safety and Efficacy鈥� that dengue 鈥渟eropositive patients,鈥� or those who were infected with the dengue virus prior to the immunization of the anti-dengue vaccine, had protection of at least five years.
LINK to study:听
However, the same study noted, the rates of hospitalization for dengue infection and severe dengue went high among 鈥渟eronegative patients,鈥� or those who were not infected prior to vaccination.
鈥淥ur findings support the hypothesis that, in the absence of previous dengue exposure, the dengue vaccine partially mimics primary infection and increases the risk of severe dengue during subsequent infection,鈥� NEJM said.
The study, which is supported by dengue vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, also said that seronegative patients aged nine to 16 years old had higher risks, while those aged two to eight were exposed to significantly higher dangers.
However, Acosta said that even patients with prior dengue infection history are also susceptible to the vaccine鈥檚 side effects.
鈥淥ut of the 62 (victims), tatlo d鈥檡an ay na-dengue na pero namatay pa rin after vaccination ng Dengvaxia,鈥� Acosta said.
鈥淧ero tama, three out of 62, mas delikado 鈥榶ong 59 na hindi pa na-dengue.听听So mas mataas ang rate no鈥檔g hindi pa nade-dengue na magkaroon ng adverse effect,鈥� she added.
What went wrong
The national anti-dengue vaccination program, worth P3 billion, was a project that commenced during the previous administration.听The government, via the Department of Health (DOH), procured 鈥淒engvaxia鈥� from Sanofi Pasteur through its local distributor Zuellig Pharma.
According to the DOH, more than 830,000 individuals, including children, have been vaccinated under the government鈥檚 anti-dengue immunization program.
An inquiry by both chambers of Congress has found former government officials, including former President Benigno S. Aquino III, possibly liable for negligence for purchasing Dengvaxia.
READ:听Aquino, Sanofi Pasteur, accountable for Dengvaxia mess 鈥� Pimentel
An organization has also filed graft charges against Aquino, including several officials of his Cabinet 鈥� former Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and former DOH Secretary Janette Garin 鈥� for the allegedly hastened deal with Sanofi.
READ:听 Aquino, et al. face plunder rap over Dengvaxia
Sanofi Pasteur鈥檚 vaccines unit Global Head Dr. Su-Peing Ng said on Thursday in a Reuters report that the study would help the company in its future projects.
鈥淲ith the new data, we now know what is the best way to utilize the dengue vaccine,鈥� Ng said.
Acosta, however, lamented Sanofi Pasteur鈥檚 seemingly late notice.
鈥淒elikado, 鈥榶on na nga 鈥榶on, kahit sabihin mo na two percent o four percent lang ang nasa fatal risk, tao 鈥榶on, hindi 鈥榶on pigs,鈥� Acosta said.
鈥淓xperimental drug pa 鈥榶an, bakit ginamit ng walang screening?鈥� she added. /kga