Tech & Sci
15:56, 04-Dec-2017
Philippines orders urgent investigation on dengue vaccination
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The Philippine Department of Justice has ordered an urgent investigation into Dengvaxia, a vaccine produced by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur and said to be “critical” in the fight against dengue.
On Friday, the Philippine Department of Health suspended a landmark public vaccination program for the potentially deadly dengue virus after its manufacturer warned it could worsen the disease in some cases.
The doubts over the vaccine have caused panic among the Philippine public. Susan Mercado, a Philippine public health specialist, said on social media that the Dengvaxia vaccine program is the largest scandal ever in the Department of Health. She also called for officials responsible for approving the vaccination program should bear legal liability.
According to the Philippine Department of Health, over 730,000 children in the Philippines have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia. NGO Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (movement in the Philippines) claimed that the vaccinations have killed at least three children.
On Monday morning, a press conference was also held at the Philippines presidential palace to to quell public panic. President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to get to the bottom of the “health scam.”
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