Philippines suspends dengue vaccine program after Sanofi warns of risks

Kat Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1445084" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>The Philippine government has suspended its dengue immunization program for public school students after a vaccine maker announced possible risks if the drug is administered to individuals not previously infected with dengue, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.</p><p>&quot;Pinahinto muna natin pansamantala lahat ng pag bakuna simula kahapon,&quot; Duque said in an interview on DZMM.</p><p>&quot;Ipapahinto muna hanggang makakuha tayo ng recommendation from the World Health Organization... para merong technical at scientific evidence yung recommendation na ating i-implement.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines was the 1st country in Asia to approve the vaccine for individuals aged 9 and 45 years old in December 2015.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/12/23/15/philippines-the-first-asian-country-to-clear-dengue-vaccine">Philippines the first Asian country to clear dengue vaccine</a></li></ul><p>The government has since procured P3-billion worth of Dengvaxia intended for one million public school children in areas reported to have the highest incidence of dengue in 2015: the National Capital Region, Region 3, and Region 4A. The vaccine was to be administered in three phases at 6 month intervals beginning April 2016.</p><p>Sanofi Pasteur&#x27;s Wednesday statement was the first time the pharmaceutical company acknowledged that Dengvaxia should not be recommended to individuals if they have never been infected with the dengue virus. The manufacturer said it would ask health authorities to advise physicians and patients of the new information in countries where the drug has been approved.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/30/17/doh-on-alert-as-sanofi-admits-dengue-vaccine-poses-risks">DOH on alert as Sanofi admits dengue vaccine poses risks</a></li>	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/06/21/17/p14b-dengue-vaccine-undispensed-mired-in-controversy">P1.4B dengue vaccine undispensed, mired in controversy</a></li></ul><p>Duque said the DOH has asked Sanofi Pasteur to provide more details about supposed &quot;severe reaction&quot; that may be experienced by patients who received the vaccine.</p><p>&quot;Gusto natin malaman ano ba ibig nila sabihin sa severe reaction. Wala kasing malinaw na paliwanag,&quot; Duque said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/06/21/storage-062117.jpg"/></figure></div><p>The Health secretary said they are also collating the master list of all children who received the vaccine to monitor their conditions.</p><p>A total of 491,990 9-year-old students were vaccinated in the first phase, under then Health Secretary Janette Garin.<br/> <br/>Of that number, 415,681 turned up for the second phase, which by then was implemented by Garin’s successor, Secretary Paulyn Ubial.</p><p>None of the children were ever tested to determine if they had been previously infected with the dengue virus.<br/> <br/>“It means some of them will develop severe dengue, we don’t know who,” said independent health advocate Dr. Anthony Leachon.</p><p>“All of them will have to live with this possibility for the rest of their lives.”</p><p>Duque said about 1.4 billion units of Dengvaxia remain in stock.</p><p>The World Health Organization says as many as 400 million people are infected worldwide every year, and two-thirds are in Asia.</p><p>Scientists have long been stumped by dengue, which has four separate strains, forcing researchers to find a drug able to fight all of them at once. The deadliest form of the disease kills 22,000 people a year, the WHO says.</p><p>Dengue is now endemic in more than 100 countries. <strong>With Agence France-Presse</strong></p>

<p>The Department of Health has suspended its dengue immunization program for public school students after a vaccine maker announced possible risks if the drug is administered to individuals not previously infected with dengue, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.</p>

The Department of Health has suspended its dengue immunization program for public school students after a vaccine maker announced possible risks if the drug is administered to individuals not previously infected with dengue, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.

Philippines suspends dengue vaccine program after Sanofi warns of risks | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

Philippines suspends dengue vaccine program after Sanofi warns of risks

Philippines suspends dengue vaccine program after Sanofi warns of risks

Kat Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 01, 2017 10:07 AM PHT

|

Updated Dec 01, 2017 10:15 AM PHT

Read More:

Francisco Duque III

Department of Health

dengue

Dengvaxia

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.