House body revives probe on DOH’s P3.5B anti-dengue immunization program

PHOTO by INQUIRER.net / NOY MORCOSO

The House committee on good government and public accountability relaunched on Wednesday its investigation on the P3.5-billion anti-dengue immunization program of the Department of Health (DOH), following the emergence of alleged irregularities.

The panel, chaired by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, reopened its hearing on House Resolution No. 444 filed by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, and House Resolution No. 480 filed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrelita Suansing.

“In the spirit of checks and balance between the branches of government, a congressional investigation must be conducted to determine why the Department of Health under the previous administration hastily and knowingly entered into an agreement or contract that might have been grossly disadvantageous to the government,” Suansing said in the resolution, which was filed in October 2016.

The DOH said more than 800,000 public school children 9 years old and above in three highly endemic regions – Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon – have received, at the least, first of three doses of anti-dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, manufactures by French pharmaceutical firm, Sanofi Pasteur.

Sanofi Pasteur recently admitted that Dengvaxia could lead to severe symptoms of dengue on people who were not previously infected with the disease but received the vaccine.         /kga