Duque named respondent in new Dengvaxia rap

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was named one among over 30 respondents in a new criminal complaint filed by the father of a child whose death is believed linked to the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

Assisted by the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), Ariel Hedia of Barangay Bayanan, Muntinlupa City on Thursday filed a complaint at the Department of Justice against at least 37 Department of Health officials and officers of drug maker Sanofi Pasteur and its local distributor Zuellig Pharma.

Duque, who was re-appointed Health secretary in October and confirmed in February, and former Health chief Janette Garin are included among those facing a fresh complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and for violations of the law against torture.

Hedia is the father of 13-year-old Abbie Hedia, who died in February of what her death certificate describes as "septic shock." She reportedly received one dose of the now-controversial vaccine in November, when Duque was already named Health secretary.

This complaint follows a string of similar accusations leveled at government officials and Sanofi and Zuellig officers over the procurement and distribution of the French-made Dengvaxia.

Last week, PAO led the filing of four criminal complaints against Garin and several others, excluding Duque, for the same charges.

More than 830,000 schoolchildren had been inoculated with the drug before Sanofi announced in November that the vaccine may worsen dengue symptoms among individuals who have not acquired the infection prior to immunization. 

'Baseless, malicious'

Sought for comment, Duque called his inclusion in the criminal complaint "baseless," "malicious," and "oppressive."

"Walang basis, kasi ako nga nagpahinto ng absolutely, unconditionally, and decisively ‘yung implementation ng Dengvaxia, tapos pina-revoke pa natin [ang] product registration ng Dengvaxia via FDA (Food and Drug Administration)," he told reporters in a phone interview.

He admitted that he was surprised upon learning that he was named in the complaint, saying he was newly appointed during the time the 13-year-old Abbie was given her Dengvaxia shot, and was focusing on addressing illnesses of persons affected by the battle in Marawi and preparing for the DOH's campaign to reduce fireworks-related injuries.

"Of all people, bakit ako ang isinama?" he said.

"Itong ginagawa is meant to harass and oppress me and the DOH, because it’s baseless. Sinasabi nila, ‘yung naturukan daw na namatay nung February, November 17 last naturukan. November 7 lang ako pumasok sa DOH bilang bagong appointee ni President Duterte," he added.

Duque put on hold the government's anti-dengue vaccination program on December  1, on the heels of Sanofi Pasteur's announcement in late November.

He wondered why former secretary Paulyn Ubial, who he said continued the implementation of the program, was not impleaded in the complaint.

"Saan ka ba naman nakakita na ‘yung katulad ni Ubial na siya ang nag-expand at siya ang nagpatuloy ng immunization to cover the community-based immunization? Bakit ako pinasok, wala naman akong pinirmahan?” he said.

The Health chief said he would show administrative orders bearing the signatures of Ubial and Garin that authorized the implementation and subsequent expansion of the vaccination program. —KG/KBK, GMA News