PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has called on government agencies to cooperate with each other in the investigation of the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine, Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. said.

“Ang panawagan nga po ay kinakailangan lahat magtulungan (The appeal is for everyone to help each other)” Mr. Roque said in a radio interview on Wednesday, Feb. 28, adding that all government agencies should be working for and towards the public interest.

“Kung meron naman silang reklamo na sa tingin nila ay may isang ahensiya na nagiging traydor sa ating publiko, di isumbong nila sa Palasyo (If they have a complaint and think that one agency is being a traitor, report it to the Palace),” he added.

SANOFI
Meanwhile, Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. issued a statement yesterday denying allegations that it concealed information on the anti-dengue vaccines.

“Sanofi Pasteur would like to address the inaccurate information regarding the transparency of data and findings related to Dengvaxia.   All our vaccines undergo extensive clinical investigations and their efficacy, safety and public health impact is continuously followed up post license,” the multinational pharmaceutical company said.

It argued that it had no information or data with regards to the “serostatus of the vaccines” showing a different product profile in the population of 9-year olds and above “from the time of the sale until November 2017.”

“We learnt of the different product profile of the dengue vaccine for those with or without a previous dengue infection in November 2017 and   Sanofi Pasteur has shared the new data in full transparency with national health authorities countries where the vaccine is approved or where it is being considered for regulatory approval.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

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