Former President Aquino included in NBI probe into dengue vaccine mess

Former President Benigno Aquino III is included in the probe by the National Bureau of Investigation to determine who should be held accountable for the controversial P3.5-billion dengue vaccine program of the Department of Health (DOH), Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Monday. 

"Everybody who was involved will be included in the NBI investigation," Aguirre said when asked by reporters if Aquino will be investigated.

The DOH stopped the use of Dengvaxia last Friday after the French producer of the vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur, admitted it must be used strictly on limited basis due to recent evidence that the antigen may aggravate the disease in people who have not been afflicted previously by dengue.

According to the DOH, more than 733,000 public school children 9 years old and above in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon received three doses of the world's first dengue vaccine.

The project was started during the term of then-Health Secretary Janette Garin in April 2016.

In response, Garin said the vaccination program was implemented based on recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).

"The dengue vaccination program plan started even before my time. We implemented it in accordance with WHO guidance and recommendations. Even before the official release of the SAGE, there were ongoing meetings and consultations between experts, WHO and DOH technical officials," Garin said in a text message.

SAGE is the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.

"We fully cooperated and consulted with WHO prior to the implementation of this program. With the desire to resolve this deadly virus, the Department started the vaccination program which has until now been seen to be strongly beneficial to 9 out of 10 Filipinos," Garin noted.

She said she was ready to face the consequences of her actions as Health secretary in conjunction with the vaccination program.

"I will answer all questions at the right time, in the appropriate forum. I will also await clarity from DOH and WHO as they are the authorities on this. In the event that there will be authorities who will point culpability to me, I am ready to face the consequences," she said. — VDS, GMA News