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Noynoy says no evidence Dengvaxia is deadly


Former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Monday said there is no evidence showing that the controversial anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia has deadly effects, contrary to the claim of his accusers.

Speaking to reporters after he filed his counter-affidavit to a complaint that charges him with criminal negligence, among other offenses, Aquino said the vaccine's benefits outweigh its risks.

"To this day, wala pang nagpapakita na ang Dengvaxia ay nakakamatay," he said.

Only 0.2 percent of the subset of Dengvaxia recipients who have not previously had dengue run the risk of acquiring a severe case of the mosquito-borne disease, he pointed out, citing studies.

"'Yung risk, meron 'yung 0.2 percent na binabanggit na baka magka-severe dengue. [Ang] gain [ay] 'yung natira sa 100 percent, 99.8 percent ng population, ay nagkakaroon ng proteksyon na at least 30 months," he said.

Citing data from the vaccine's efficacy trials, the former chief executive said Dengvaxia leads to reduced rates of symptomatic dengue, hospitalization due to dengue, and severe dengue.

Aquino also said the country lost P16 billion a year to the costs brought about by dengue cases, which, according to data he presented, reached over 200,000 in 2013.

The vaccine was administered to over 830,000 children before the government's mass dengue immunization program, which started during the Aquino administration, was suspended in December last year.

The government suspended the program on the heels of drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur's announcement that Dengvaxia may lead to a "severe" case of dengue upon subsequent infection among those who have not been exposed to the disease before immunization.

"Sa kabuuan, dahil sa pagbabakuna, di hamak na mas marami ang naproprotektahan. 'Di hamak na mas maraming Pilipino ang nailalayo sa karamdaman," Aquino said in a statement distributed to reporters.

The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) continues to conduct autopsies of individuals whose deaths are suspected by some to be linked to the supposed effects of the vaccine.

The group has also led at least nine families in filing criminal complaints against several officials of the Department of Health, including incumbent chief Francisco Duque III and former secretary Janette Garin, over the supposed Dengvaxia-connected deaths of their children.

Garin and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad were Aquino's co-respondents in the complaint. The three attended Monday's prelimary investigation at the Department of Justice. —KBK, GMA News

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