The Department of Health (DOH) might demand a refund from Sanofi, the maker of the world’s first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, following the release of a new clinical analysis that said it may cause greater health risk to those who have not had dengue prior to the vaccination
“It is an option we are considering, but we also have to look into the legal issues,” Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo told reporters.
The government spent P3.5-billion in purchasing and performing the dengue immunization program.
However, Bayugo clarified that during the time the vaccines were bought, there were no irregularities reported until Sanofi bared that the vaccines are safe only to people who have a dengue history, adding that the DOH conducted the program because according to the previous findings Dengvaxia was safe to use and it was duly registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when the DOH procured it.
“I still believe that the DOH complied with the requirements of the law in the procurement of the dengue vaccine,” he added.
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 12/ 05 / 17)