Former President Benigno S. Aquino III said he was informed that the Dengvaxia vaccine went through rigid local and international processes to assure its efficacy and safety to people.
During the joint hearing of the Senate blue ribbon, health, and finance committees on Thursday, Aquino said: 鈥淪inabi sa atin noon na ready na ang Sanofi sa bakuna. 鈥榊ung ganitong uri ng gamot maraming taon ang pinagdadaanan para masiguro talaga ang safety at efficacy.鈥�
The Senate was holding the hearing to look into the controversial P3.5 billion anti-dengue immunization program of the Department of Health (DOH), which started during Aquino鈥檚 term.
The program used Dengvaxia, the only licensed anti-dengue vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur.
鈥淎ng intindi natin sa Dengvaxia natapos na ang local at international process na kailangang pagdaanan nito,鈥� he also said.
According to Aquino, the vaccine went through the processes of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).
鈥淭inignan namin ang US FDA, may five steps po ito: Discovery and Development, Preclinical Research, Clinical Research, FDA Review, at Post-Market Safety Monitoring,鈥� he said.
The former President also pointed out that no one opposed the program before, during and after its implementation.
鈥淒iin ko lang po: Bago nagdesisyon ang gobyerno sa Dengvaxia, habang nagdedesisyon, pagkatapos magdesisyon at hanggang sa ngayon, walang nagparating sa atin ng pagtutol sa bakuna,鈥� Aquino stressed.
He also clarified Gordon鈥檚 claim that the vaccine was administered over the regions with the highest voter turnout.
鈥淜aya natin inilunsad ito sa NCR, CALABARZON, at Central Luzon, dahil ayon sa datos ng DOH, ito po ang tatlong pinaka-apektadong mga rehiyon nung 2015 kagnay ng Dengue,鈥� he noted.
Aquino also maintained that his government鈥檚 decision to implement the anti-dengue vaccination program was for the welfare of the Filipinos.
鈥淜ung 鈥榙i lumabas itong sinabi ng Sanofi, at nagdesisyon akong hayaan na lang na magdusa pa ang mga Boss ko, gayong may bakuna na, palagay ko ngayon, iba ang tanong ninyo at asunto sa akin: Bakit mo pinabayaan ang Pilipino?鈥� Aquino said.
鈥淯litin ko po: 2010 pa lang may problema na tayo sa Dengue. 1409% ang paglobo nito sa Region 8, na posible ring mangyari sa buong bansa. Nangako akong iiwan ko ang Pilipinas na mas maganda kaysa sa aking dinantnan. Kaakibat noon ang pagbawas sa gastos, kaba, at pasanin ng aking mga Boss,鈥� he added.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 /kga