House committee okays P1.161-B budget for Dengvaxia-vaccinated children

Presentation courtesy of the Department of Health

The House appropriations committee on Tuesday approved House Bill 7449 that seeks to allot P1.161 billion for the medical assistance of around 900,000 children vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

The budget was appropriated by the panel to assist the Dengvaxia vaccinees. The bill was amended so that the budget could be used until the fund is fully utilized.

The total fund of P1,161,710,000 budget will be used exclusively for human resource for health deployment; public health management; and assistance to indigent patients either confined or out-patient, according to the bill.

During the resumption of the House appropriations committee hearing on the supplemental budget, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Rolando Domingo presented their revised budget proposal which allocated 81 percent of the P1.161 billion fund to the medical assistance program or health assistance fund for Dengvaxia vaccinees.

Meanwhile, 13 percent or P148.3 million will be allocated to public health management, including the assessment and monitoring of vaccinees and their supplies and medicines; and 6 percent or P67.6 million will be allocated to human resource for health deployment, which inlcudes follow up of vaccinees with complaints.

Presentation courtesy of the Department of Health

During the hearing last May 16, House appropriations committee Chair Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles told the DOH to “re-prioritize” items in its proposed supplemental budget for Dengvaxia vaccinees after finding it “seriously flawed.”

READ: Nograles to DOH: Focus budget on profiling Dengvaxia recipients

Presentation courtesy of the Department of Health

Nograles also underscored the need to provide medical assistance for vaccinees, whether or not their illnesses are related to the vaccine.

“I don’t care if it’s clinically related to Dengvaxia, basta ang bata naturukan… kahit ano mang sakit ‘yan tutulungan natin,” he said.

Domingo replied: “Yes, we will cover all 900,000 vaccinees, kahit anong sakit, as long as Dengvaxia vaccinee po siya at may card (Dengvaxia Assistance Card).”

Health Assistance Program for Dengvaxia Vaccinees

The supplemental budget, which Nograles wants to be passed on third and final reading by next week, seeks to tap the P1.16 billion refund given to the Philippine government by Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur earlier this year.

The government launched a P3-billion mass anti-dengue vaccination program using the new drug Dengvaxia in April 2016, or during the tail end of the Aquino administration.

However, in November 2017, Sanofi bared the results of its long-term follow-up study where it learned that “seronegative” vaccinees–children who never had dengue but were given Dengvaxia shots–had an increased risk of a severe case and hospitalization from the third year after immunization.

Almost 900,000 kids were already vaccinated when the DOH suspended the program due to the findings. /vvp