Pimentel seeks full refund from Sanofi for Dengvaxia mess

CEBU, Philippines — Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday called on the Department of Health (DOH) to ask Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur for a refund not just on unused anti-dengue vaccines, but also for the cost of the entire contract.

Pimentel’s statement came on the heels of the DOH’s announcement that it has issued demand letters asking Sanofi to refund the P1.4 billion paid for the vaccines that remain unused and to conduct serotesting of the children given Dengvaxia.

“All the vaccines were defective from the very beginning. Therefore, under our laws, we should demand the whole P3.5 billion we paid them and not just part of it,” he said.

“The Civil Code says you can have a defective product replaced or refunded. Since there is no possible replacement for the vaccine, refund is the only option,” he said.

“The Civil Code says you can have a defective product replaced or refunded. Since there is no possible replacement for the vaccine, refund is the only option,” he added.

Pimentel noted that even if Sanofi pays the full amount, it still does not release them from any liability that may arise from putting more than 800,000 children at risk.

The Philippines was the first country in Asia to approve the use of the vaccine in December 2015.

The government bought vaccines intended for public schoolchildren in areas with high incidences of dengue, in a program that began in April 2016.

Last November, Sanofi released a statement saying that the vaccine increases risks of contracting severe dengue for those who have never been infected with the dreaded disease.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee is currently probing the procurement of Dengvaxia by the previous administration.

Earlier, Sanofi said it is willing to talk with the DOH on the reimbursement issue.

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