Acosta laments delay in getting masterlist of Dengvaxia recipients

The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has sent a demand letter to the Department of Health (DOH), requesting for a masterlist of children immunized with anti-dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.

PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, however, said that the DOH has yet to act on their request, and that they received information that the masterlist is with the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Nagpadala na nga kami ng demand letter sa DOH. Wala pang sagot sa sulat namin. Ngayon sa DepEd naman,” Acosta said during the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.

She added that they are also likely to ask a similar list from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) because aside from schools, there was also an anti-dengue immunization campaign conducted in several communities nationwide.

The previous administration facilitated a mass anti-dengue inoculation drive using the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine mainly among elementary students from public schools as well as certain populations, including policemen.

The anti-dengue immunization program has been continued under the current Duterte administration until reports came out that the vaccine could have adverse effect on immunized children, who have never been afflicted with dengue.

“Kay Secretary [Francisco] Duque alisin na ang denial syndrome. Ang mga magulang din may denial syndrome dahil hindi nila matanggap na patay na ang anak nila,” Acosta said.                /kga