No available test kits to continue Dengvaxia doses: DOH

FILE: An official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said the department cannot heed the call of a vaccine advocate to complete the anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine doses due to the unavailability of test kits. (Photo by Leilani S. Junio via PNA)

MANILA –An official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said the department cannot heed the call of a vaccine advocate to complete the anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine doses due to the unavailability of test kits.

“That will not happen in the next 1 or 2 years. We will only consider it then (after those years),” said DOH Undersecretary Enrique Domingo in a text message.

He said there is no available test kits that will determine whether an individual has prior dengue infection or not.

He said that DOH is still in the process of exploring of bringing the technology of the test kits being developed in other countries and see if it will yield results based on the Philippine settings.

Earlier, vaccine advocate, Dr. Edsel Salvaña, director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of UP Manila emphasized the need to restore the confidence of the public on vaccines that help in saving lives and preventing disabilities.

“Since it was DOH who suspended the program, it is them (DOH) who has also the authority to implement special exemptions,” said Salvaña during an event in Pasay City.

Salvaña cited the need to grant exemption as a way to follow the WHO-Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) revised recommendation that it will be a good option to complete the doses for those who had been administered with the vaccine but where not able to complete them.

He was referring to Dengvaxia vaccinees who were not able to complete the second and third doses after DOH suspended the dengue vaccination program on December 1, 2017.

“It is effective, when used properly,” he said, noting that the sero positive individuals or those who have had prior dengue infection can be protected from contacting severe dengue up to 93 percent.