Remains of student who died of dengue 11 days after receiving Dengvaxia vaccine exhumed

Authorities exhumed on Thursday in Bataan the remains of a student who died of dengue 11 days after receiving the Dengvaxia vaccine.

The forensics team of the Public Attorney's Office went to Bagac, Bataan to exhume the remains of 11-year-old John Paul Rafael and subject them to forensic examination, according to a report on News To Go by Chino Gaston.

The forensics team of the Public Attorney's Office on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, led the exhumation in Bagac, Bataan of the remains of 11-year-old John Paul Rafael who died of dengue 11 days after receiving the Dengvaxia vaccine in April 2016. Chino Gaston

PAO will also exhume the remains of another student who likewise died of dengue.

The forensics team, however, had difficulty checking if there was massive bleeding in Rafael's internal organs since it has been almost two years since the boy passed away in April 2016.

Massive bleeding and inflammation of internal organs were detected in the remains of five other dengue victims who were vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

According to forensics experts who examined the remains of John Paul Rafael, there was staining in the boy's skull. Chino Gaston

PAO forensics chief Dr. Erwin Erfe, however, said they discovered staining in the skull of Rafael, which may indicate that bleeding occurred prior to death.

The team retrieved tissue samples for further examination in a laboratory.

Cristina Ramirez, aunt of Rafael, said the family decided to allow the exhumation to determine the cause of the boy's death.

One of the causes of death given, she said, was congenital heart disease, said to be a preexisting condition of the boy.

Rafael exhibited the same symptoms as the other victims who died of dengue—stomachache, lethargy, and bleeding.

His family wants those behind the vaccination drive to be held accountable.

They also hope Rafael's case will serve as a warning to other parents whose children also received the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Exhumed

PAO already exhumed the remains of three other children  — Anjielica Pestilos, 10, Zandro Colite, 11, and Lenard Baldonado, 10 — who died of dengue some time after they received Dengvaxia.

Erfe said a pattern was found on the illnesses suffered by the children before they died, including bleeding in various internal organs and enlarged organs.

A separate expert panel of doctors from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital was tasked to review the cases of children who died after receiving Dengvaxia to see if the deaths were related to the vaccine.

Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur admitted in November 2017 that individuals who have not contracted dengue prior to inoculation of the anti-dengue vaccine may develop a severe disease in the future.

The Department of Health stopped the dengue immunization program after Sanofi made the disclosure.

In addition to this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) imposed administrative sanctions on Sanofi Pasteur, ordered the certificate of product registration of dengue vaccine Dengvaxia suspended, and fined the company P100,000.

The DOH estimated that more than 830,000 children, aged nine and above, from public schools in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Cebu were vaccinated with Dengvaxia. —With Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News