Duque: Aquino, Garin should speak up to clear names on Dengvaxia mess

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Friday former President Benigno Aquino III and former Health Secretary Janette Garin should “come forward” and explain their side on the dengue vaccine mess.

“It’s hard to second-guess the former secretary of Health and also the former President. But it’s really up to them if they would like to clarify several issues on the matter because they were the ones who make the very vital decision to procure the vaccines,” Duque said in a Palace briefing.

“And the circumstances around which that decision was made, is—or something that I’m really, I’m not privy to ‘no. So we will just have to await what their testimonies will be,” he added.

The health official said it would be good for everyone if Aquino and Garin would clear their names amid “toxic speculations” on the dengue vaccine program.

“It will be good for everyone. I believe very strongly it is going to be good for everyone to come forward and to say his or her piece and to explain,” he said.

“Otherwise, there will be too many speculations and sometimes there are innuendos, very toxic speculations or innuendos,” he added.

Duque said he believed the two former officials meant well when they implemented the dengue vaccine program.

READ: Ex-President Aquino urged to speak up on anti-dengue vaccine controversy 

“So to prevent that from snowballing, might be good, sabihin na lang kung ano talaga (just say everything about it). Because I’m sure they actually meant well. I have no doubt that they did mean well,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH) has suspended anti-dengue vaccination following a disclosure by the manufacturer of the vaccine, French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, that it could pose more risk and severe infections to the person who got vaccinated. /jpv

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