DOH seeks better studies on possible revival of dengue vaccine in PH

The Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday it is looking at better studies regarding vaccines against dengue before it could be possibly brought back to the Philippines for administration.

DOH Epidemiology Bureau supervising health program officer Angelica Garcia said this in a dengue forum when asked about the agency’s take on the dengue vaccine.

“In terms of vaccination of dengue, we know that it plays an important role in preventing infections, as well as severe disease,” she answered.

“However, we would like to have better studies before we administer [the] vaccination and also have in place [the] monitoring of adverse events involving immunization para ma-monitor natin (so we could monitor) if ever we will be pulling out vaccination drive for dengue,” she added.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier said he is not keen on bringing back the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia in the country.

The Dengvaxia controversy arose in November 2017 after manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur announced that the vaccine may lead to “severe” symptoms for those who have never been infected by dengue prior to vaccination.

As a result, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration ordered the suspension of the sale, distribution, and marketing of Dengvaxia vaccine and the withdrawal of the product from the market.

The controversy happened as the government was already conducting its dengue vaccination program under then-Health Secretary Janette Garin.

In July 2022, former DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency is open to studying again the possible evidence presented by Dengvaxia in protecting people against the virus.

Should there be another dengue vaccination in the Philippines, Garcia said that DOH’s Health Promotions Bureau will make a communication strategy that would better communicate and encourage people to take the dengue jab amid the fears elicited by Dengvaxia.

“That is why we would like to encourage the improvement of our surveillance for dengue because the data that we will gather in our surveillance will help us better study the dengue situation in the Philippines and also the clinical picture in the Philippines that can inform, if ever, vaccination strategies for the country,” she said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News