Senate approves P1.16-billion supplemental budget for dengue assistance

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has approved on third and final reading the P1.161-billion supplemental budget for assistance to people injected with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

Certified as urgent by President Duterte, the Senate approved House Bill 7449 with a vote of 18-0.

The P1.161 billion was sourced from the refund paid by Zuellig Pharma, local distributor of the anti-dengue Dengvaxia manufactured by French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur, to the Philippine government for the unused doses of the vaccine purchased during the Aquino administration.

The supplemental budget would be supervised by the Department of Health (DOH) and be used exclusively for the medical assistance program for individuals injected with Dengvaxia, either confined or outpatient.

Once the bill is signed into law, the DOH would be tasked to issue the guidelines necessary for the availment of the medical assistance program.

Malacañang welcomed yesterday the move of the Senate to approve the P1.16-billion supplemental budget for assistance to individuals inoculated with Dengvaxia vaccine.

“(We) appreciate the Senate’s prompt approval of Dengvaxia supplemental budget,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr said.

The DOH demanded the refund following Sanofi’s admission that individuals who have never contracted dengue face the risk of getting a severe strain if they are administered Dengvaxia. – With Christina Mendez