Dengvaxia decreases risk of severe dengue if used properly — Salvana

Amid the rising number of dengue cases in the Philippines, an infectious disease expert on Friday stressed that Dengvaxia vaccine decreases the risk of severe infection as long as it is used properly.

Dr. Edsel Salvana, a member of the Department of Health-Technical Advisory Group, issued the remark when asked how he would address the concerns over the use of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

“From a science perspective, it’s very clear that if we use Dengavaxia properly and people who have had at least one bout of dengue, it does decrease your risk of severe diseases by a lot,” Salvana said in an ANC interview.

In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration ordered the suspension of the sale, distribution, and marketing of the Dengvaxia vaccine and the withdrawal of the product from the market.

This came a week after Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi warned that the vaccine may cause severe diseases in the long run for those who have not been infected by dengue prior to the vaccination.

Salvana, however, said the country now has the tools to check prior dengue infection and ensure that the vaccination is “safer.”

“We also have the tools now where we can actually check for dengue infection or prior dengue infection in someone before they get the vaccine,” he said.

“So, you know, that will decrease the risk of having severe disease as a result of injecting somebody who has not had dengue,” he added.

Meanwhile, Salvana said the risk of getting the Dengvaxia vaccine is not higher than getting severe dengue in an individual’s second infection.

“The attributed risk from giving the dengue vaccine to someone who is seronegative is not any higher than the risk of severe dengue with a second natural infection. So it doesn’t go beyond the actual risk if you had dengue once,” he said.

Salvana previously urged the public to keep an open mind regarding Dengvaxia.

For its part, the Department of Health said it is open to studying again the possible evidence presented by Dengvaxia in protecting the people against the virus.—AOL, GMA News