Government officials serving under the current Duterte administration should be spared responsibility in the Dengvaxia immunization controversy that put at risk the health of thousands of children, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said on Monday.
However, Acosta quickly noted that if those government officials have been involved with the previous administration in the purchase of the anti-dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, then “they should also be [held] accountable.”
“Hindi po kasali ang present administration unless kasabwat sila ng nakaraang administrasyon,” Acosta said during the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.
She also said that teachers, midwives, provincial, municipal and city health workers, private doctors and clinicians should not be included in the complaint for the anti-dengue vaccination mess.
“They were only following orders. They have also been misled,” Acosta pointed out.
“Kung sino ang promotor nito na nakakaalam ng adverse reaction pero binili pa rin, sila ang dapat kasuhan,” she stressed.
Acosta, however refused to identify those who will be sued.
“Sa mga kakasuhan ayoko munang mag-announce pero alam ng taong bayan kung sino dapat kasuhan dito sa pagkamatay ng mga bata,” she said.
[I don’t want to announce who should be sued but the public knows who they are.]
Acosta said they are focused on the civil, criminal, and administrative aspects of the case, while, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which is also conducting its own probe will be handling on who should be held liable for graft and plunder.
Acosta said Dengvaxia which is still an experimental drug shouldn’t have undergone mass vaccination and should have been distributed under a controlled and more selective process.
Sanofi Pasteur, the manufacturer of Dengvaxia, last November issued an advisory for its product saying the vaccine is effective for people who have had dengue prior to immunization and warned a risk of a “severe” case of dengue for people who have not. /kga