Noynoy: No rush in gov't dengue vaccination program

Former President Benigno Aquino III on Monday denied that the dengue vaccination program, which began during his term in office, was rushed and that the entire process took about five years to complete.

In an ambush interview, Aquino said the issue of increasing dengue cases in the country was seen as early as 2010, his first year in office, and the solution that was given to him --- the Dengvaxia vaccine --- came in 2015.

"(Taong) 2010 pa yung problema, ginawa mo lahat ng magagawa mo, sinabihan ka may forthcoming new weapon against this disease. It happened, 2010 ako unang inabisuhan, sinabi nang malapit na 2014, matatapos 2015, it's five years," he said.

The Aquino administration has been criticized for supposedly rushing the procurement of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Aquino, however, stressed the need for such vaccine, given the data he mentioned in the House inquiry into the matter that dengue cases in the country rose from 5,166 cases in 1995 to 200,415 cases in 2015.

"It's our responsibility, we are in charge of government. Ano ba ang pwede nating magawa para mapalakas ang proteksyon ng taumbayan? And here comes a vaccine that goes through all of the processes to determine safety and efficacy, not only here but in so many other countries," he said.

"We now have a protection that is apart from vector control, na meron nang proteksyon coming from your own body against this disease that is really debilitating both in terms of morbidity and mortality," he added.

Aquino also offered condolences to the relatives of Dengvaxia-administered children who have died.

"Ako po ay nakikiramay sa mga namatayan. Maganda na malaman natin talaga kung ano ang kadahilanan ng pagkamatay ng kanilang mga kamag-anak. At bukod doon mako-correct natin ang sitwasyon," he said.

The former president, however, pointed out that there is no use in sowing fear to the public as regards Dengvaxia.

"May mga magulang, pinaturukan ang mga bata. Tama na bigyan natin ng tamang impormasyon. Pero iiwan natin na puro paduda, puro pahaka-haka?" he said.

"Kailangan bigyan mo ng tamang impormasyon para makagawa siya ng mga hakbang para masigurong mapangalagaan ang kalusugan ng kanilang mga anak. Pero kung hindi makukuha yun kung puro takot lang, at ang epekto nga ngayon, pati yung ibang proyekto ng gobyerno na nakatulong na ay pinagdududahan," he added.

The joint House panels terminated the deliberations on the Dengvaxia controversy, subject to reopening if needed. — BAP, GMA News