Duterte wants Sanofi held liable for Dengvaxia fiasco: Roque

FILE: Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque (PCOO PHOTO)

MANILA — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte stands by the Department of Health’s (DOH) recommendation to hold French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur accountable for the dengue vaccine controversy.

In a press briefing, Roque also confirmed that once the investigation of the Senate and the Department of Justice is concluded, the Chief Executive will run after all individuals responsible for the mess.

“We want, by way of mere, by way of minimum, a refund of what we have paid already for the Dengvaxia. That’s the declaration already of the DOH Secretary,” he said.
“He wants a refund of what we had paid because there was concealment of a material fact and that is that children who have not developed dengue may acquire the disease three to six years after the vaccination. That was not a known fact when government decided to embark on the vaccination program,” he added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said they would demand a refund of the PHP3.5 billion paid for Dengvaxia.

Among others, they will also press for Sanofi to set up an indemnification fund to cover the hospitalization and medical treatment of all children who might suffer severe dengue.

In a recent Senate probe, Thomas Triomphe, Asia-Pacific head of Sanofi Pasteur, claimed that Dengvaxia is safe and effective despite their November admission.
“We at Sanofi assure Filipinos that Dengvaxia continues to be a safe and efficacious vaccine,” he said.

In November, Sanofi Pasteur revealed that Dengvaxia, which has already been administered to more than 800,000 public school children, may cause a severe case of the disease among recipients who have not contracted the dengue virus before.