Leachon tells Duterte: Enough with the show, be on top of Dengvaxia issue

FILE: Dengvaxia (Photo: MIMS)

President Rodrigo Duterte should stop putting a ‘show’ and be on the ‘top’ of the dengvaxia mess, an independent doctor from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said.

Dr. Antonio Leachon said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda that Duterte should hold accountable those behind the dengue vaccination program issue as he said 90,000 of vaccinated individuals are at risk.

“Apela ko sana ay si President Duterte ay be on top of this tapos accountability. Tama na ang zarzuela. May Blue Ribbon daw on Monday tapos yung isa ayaw daw eh ang hinihingi ng bayan ay accountability [My appeal to President Duterte is that he should be on the top of this and accountability. Enough with the show. They said there is a blue ribbon (hearing) on Monday but the public wants accountability], ” Leachon said.

“Alam mo napanuod ko na lahat ng teleserye sa senado [I have watched all shows in the Senate] — about hazing, BOC, shabu, ZTE… Tapos presidential spokesperson ay trying to stop… eh whitewash ito [I have watched all shows in the Senate… And then the presidential spokersperson is trying to stop (it) but this is whitewashing],” he added.

Leachon also said Dr. Antonio Danz presented to him the trial of Sanofi Pasteur through the New England Journal of Medicine that there is a “safety signal” explaining that those vaccinated but do not have dengue prior to immunization are ‘in danger’ in the third year.

The doctor added that they tried to present the study in a House committee hearing but were stopped by five congressman, including then Akbayan Representative and now Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

“Sabi naming may question kami sa safety, hindi doon sa efficacy at wag muna nating bakunahan nang mga walang testing yung mga bata, [We told them we have questions on safety and not on efficacy, and that they should not vaccinate the children without testing],” Leachon said.

“Pumunta, nagsulat, sa kongreso pero day one pa lang hinarang kami ng mga congressman; lima sa pangunguna ni Presidential Spokersperson Harry Roque.  Introduction pa lang, nandoon ang dating Secretary. Hindi siya kasama doon, ah. Bwal magsalita, [We went and wrote to the Congress but it’s just day one and we were barred by five congressmen, including Presidential Spokersperson Harry Roque. It’s just introduction but we were barred to speak,” Leachon added.

He also told Roque that information dissemination is needed not merely reminding people not to panic as it is now a “global problem.”

Earlier, Roque reminded the public to not panic over the government’s dengue vaccination program as the Department of Justice (DOJ) will start a probe on the purchase of Dengvaxia.