Senator urges DoH Dengvaxia fund

By Camille A. Aguinaldo
SENATOR Richard J. Gordon on Monday urged the Department of Health (DoH) to allocate a special fund using its current budget to provide medical assistance to Dengvaxia-vaccinated children since the supplemental budget for the program has stalled in the Senate.
“The DoH and Philhealth should coordinate to help those who were vaccinated with Dengvaxia. The DoH has an emergency fund that can be used for the time being. I don’t think too much money would be used because not all those who were vaccinated needed to be examined immediately,” he said in a statement.
The Senate failed to pass the P1.16 billion supplemental budget for medical assistance of Dengvaxia-vaccinated children on its last day of session on May 30 despite a certification of urgency from President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
The House of Representatives has approved its counterpart version of the bill last May 28 and has transmitted its version to the Senate on May 29.
The anti-dengue vaccination program was suspended last year following the analysis of Dengvaxia-manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur that the vaccine may pose health risks for those vaccinated without having dengue.
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Mr. Gordon recommended last April the filing of graft charges against former president Benigno Aquino III, former Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin, former Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad over the alleged hasty procurement of the vaccines.
Meanwhile, former president Benigno S.C. Aquino III was at the Department of Justice on Monday to answer three complaints accusing him and other former Cabinet officials, as well as officials of Sanofi Pasteur, of graft, violation of RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), and other charges.
Mr. Aquino was accompanied, among others, by his former health secretary Janette L. Garin and former budget secretary Florencio B. Abad.
The former president also defended the Dengvaxia program on his watch, saying the benefits gained from the vaccination program outweighed the risks.
He also criticized President Rodrigo R. Duterte on his stance on China.