Robredo wants answers on Dengvaxia controversy

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called for the resolution of issues hounding the government's purchase of the Dengvaxia vaccine, after a manufacturer said it may cause severe diseases to those who have not been infected prior to vaccination.

"Kailangang masusing pag-aralan at panaguting iyong mga kailangang managot," Robredo said in her weekly radio show BISErbisyong LENI.

This comes after Sanofi, a pharmaceutical company which manufactured the vaccine, advised against prescribing Dengvaxia to those who have not been affected in the past as it may cause severe diseases in the long run.

"Pinakamahalaga na magkaroon ng kasagutan kung ano iyong epekto nito, kasi iyong mga magulang ng mga batang nabakunahan... kailangan nilang malaman ano iyong kailangan nilang gawin — kung talang mayroon itong masamang epekto, ano ba iyong puwedeng gawin para mailigtas naman iyong kanilang mga anak," Robredo said.

"Kaya tingin ko, as soon as possible, kailangan magkaroon ito ng kasagutan — ano iyong dapat gawin, at iyong mga nagkasala, kailangang panagutin," she added.

The Department of Health (DOH) had said it will put the program on hold as it will review and consult with experts and key stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the DOH, more than 733,000 children — aged 9 and above — from public schools in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon have already received at least the first three doses of the vaccine. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/ALG, GMA News