Acosta to DOH: Don’t discount Dengvaxia link to doctor’s death

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on Wednesday urged the Department of Health (DOH) not to discount the possibility of relation between use of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia and the death of a doctor on Sunday.

“Ang punto lang po doon sana ay huwag agad i-discount ang Dengvaxia, lalo kung na-dengvaxia,” Acosta said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.

Dr. Kendrick Gotoc reportedly experienced weight loss, stomach pain, headache, appetite loss, and skin rashes before he died, according to the PAO. Gatoc received

three shots of the Dengvaxia vaccine two years ago, PAO added.

According to Acosta, the symptoms shown by Gotoc were similar to those manifested 47 other Dengvaxia victims.

“Based po sa clinical records at clinical signs na kinukwento noong kapatid at nanay ay halos pareho po doon sa nangyari doon sa mga bata, doon sa 47 na autopsy ng PAO,”  she said.

Acosta said the autopsy on Gatoc has yet to be scheduled by PAO and the family.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque earlier slammed the PAO for claiming that  Gotoc’s death was due to the vaccine.

“Hindi ko alam kung anong basis nila, bakit nila sinasabi na Dengvaxia ang nag cause noong death. Bakit, mayroong autopsy na bang ginawa? Meron na bang kompletong pagsusuri na ginawa? Wala pa naman,” Duque said.

READ: DOH slams PAO for linking doctor’s death to Dengvaxia sans autopsy    /muf