CITING lessons learned from the Dengvaxia controversy, the Department of Health (DOH) is no longer looking at having another mass dengue immunization program in the country.
In an interview, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said they are not inclined to make available dengue vaccines via a mass vaccination program if one is approved for use in the country.
He said this is because tests will have to be made before dengue vaccines are used on patients.
“It has to be done in clinics because, as we’ve learned with Dengvaxia, you should know the serological status of the person you’re giving the dengue vaccine to,” said Herbosa.
“It’s very important to undergo a serologic test before you decide to give any of these new dengue vaccines,” he added.
In 2016, the Philippines launched the dengue vaccination campaign using the Dengvaxia vaccine of the French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur.
The Dengvaxia jabbing operation was subsequently stopped after Sanofi admitted that the vaccine could put previously uninfected people at a higher risk of developing a severe case of dengue.
Since then, the Philippines has opened the window for the possible registration of the “Qdenga” dengue vaccine of Japanese firm, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company.
According to Herbosa, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to evaluate the application of Qdenga, with the manufacturers still required to submit two more requirements.
These are a risk management plan and the explanation on why they pulled the vaccine out in other countries.
“If they submit that, I think we can give the CPR (Certificate of Product Registration),” said the health chief.
