Families of 4 Dengvaxia ‘victims’ sue Garin, 33 others

The families of four children who died after being inoculated with the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia have filed reckless imprudence leading to homicide and other charges against former Health Secretary Janette Garin and 33 other government and drug company officials.

The families of Aejay Bautista, 11; Angelica Pestilos, 10; Lenard Baldonado, 10; and Zandro Colite, 11, were represented by Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta when they filed their separate complaints in the Department of Justice on Thursday.

Acosta said Bautista of Caloocan City died last Jan. 24 due to multiple organ failure, while Pestilos of Quezon City died last Dec. 5 of acute respiratory failure and had a preexisting lupus disease.

Baldonado of Laguna died last Nov. 9, also of acute respiratory failure and had preexisting leukemia, while Colite of Cavite died on Dec. 27 due to multiple organ failure.

The PAO said its forensic teams had established that the four children died of organ failure that could be attributed to the new vaccine.

The families accused Garin and other officials of the Department of Health, French vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur and distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp. of reckless imprudence resulting in  homicide and torture for causing the children’s deaths. —DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN