SC orders DOH to answer petition of kids’ mothers in Dengvaxia mess

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III INQUIRER file photo

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to comment on the petition seeking to compel government agencies to address the health risks brought about by the multi-billion anti-dengue vaccination mess.

During Wednesday’s en banc session, the high court gave respondents Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Department of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, program director of the DOH-National Center for Disease Prevention and Control and Food and Drug Administration Director General Nela Charade Puno 10 days from receipt of notice to submit their comment.

Petitioners include more than 70 mothers of children who received the anti-dengue or the Dengvaxia vaccine. The parents were assisted by Gabriela party-list. Rep. Emmi de Jesus.

READ: Pregnant teen who had Dengvaxia inoculation hospitalized

The petitioners said the government should provide long-term consultations and treatment for more than 800,000 children administered with Dengvaxia in 2016. They said the services should be given for free.

“These free medical services shall continue until it would have been determined and declared by competent and medical and/or scientific experts that the threat/s brought about by the Dengvaxia vaccine have been minimized or eliminated,” the petition stated.

Petitioners also want the high court to compel the government to publicly disseminate the report from the DOH about the review it is conducting on school-based immunization program involving Dengvaxia. /jpv

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