DOH sets up hotlines for dengue vaccine queries

Amid concerns stemming from the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, the Department of Health has opened service hotlines to address questions over the immunization mess.

"Unang Balita" reported Wednesday morning that the DOH has dedicated 711-1001 and 711-1002 as hotlines for queries about the vaccination controversy.

Last Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the DOH  to set up a database of children who were given shots of the vaccine but have not been infected with the dengue virus, especially in Luzon and Cebu areas.  

The controversy arose after French firm Sanofi Pasteur, Dengvaxia maker,  announced that the vaccine may have adverse effects on children who have not yet contracted the dengue virus.

Over 700,000 schoolchildren aged nine and above had been given Dengvaxia shots and some 70,000 of them had not been infected with the dengue virus. —LBG, GMA News