DOH eyes special fund from Sanofi Pasteur refund

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing the allocation of a special fund for the treatment of children who were administered with the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

In a dialogue with parents of vaccinated children yesterday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he is seeking part of the over P1 billion refund from Dengvaxia vaccines for the medical needs of the vaccinated children.

“We will write Congress and the Office of the President asking to give us the authority to use part of the money returned to the government for the unused doses of Dengvaxia so we can finance better the needs of the parents of vaccine recipients,” Duque disclosed.

French pharmaceutical Sanofi Pasteur refunded P1.4 billion for the unused doses of the drug but declined the demand for a full refund of P3.5 billion.

According to Duque, part of the fund may be used in reimbursing the expenses incurred by private hospitals that will treat children given Dengvaxia shots.

“We will be reimbursing them as long as there are proof that they paid more than the amount covered by PhilHealth,” he noted.

Yesterday, the DOH also distributed dengue kits, but the parents still expressed dismay over the controversy despite assistance being provided by the government.

The kits include mosquito repellents, multivitamins, paracetamol, ascorbic acid, aerosol, thermometer, insecticide-treated nets and moisturizing soaps.

“Your DOH will strive harder in finding more funding to finance our support to these parents,” Duque said.

He extended the government’s apology to the parents of the public school children who were vaccinated during the DOH’s anti-dengue immunization program and gave assurances that government hospitals are ready to provide the necessary treatment if needed for the children who may get sick after vaccination.

In the Mimaropa region, which comprises the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, over 74 children vaccinated with anti-dengue are being closely monitored by DOH after two of them were hospitalized.

 “Although there were no Dengvaxia immunization given in the region, we choose to seek and monitor those who have been vaccinated from the priority areas and those who received it from private clinics and practitioners,” Eduardo Janairo, DOH Mimaropa director pointed out.

He said at least 74 vaccine recipients were identified to be from Marinduque and Mindoro and that most of them received it from private clinics.

“We have to make sure that these children are safe and protected from any health-related incidents pertaining to the administration of Dengvaxia. The regional office through its medical assistance program will handle the hospitalization or any medical assistance should there be a need for one,” Janairo assured the public.

The health official noted that one of the children was admitted at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center after complaining of abdominal pain, headache, fever, cold and rashes.

Another was brought to the provincial hospital due to dengue and Janairo said both were already discharged and given free medical assistance.