PAO chief Acosta: ‘Pabakuna po tayo basta hindi under clinical trial’

Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on Thursday urged the public to get vaccinated, amid the Department of Health's (DOH) declaration of measles outbreak in different parts of the country.

"Magpabakuna po tayo ng mga subok na bakuna at 'yung mga bakunang hindi under clinical trial," Acosta said in an ambush interview in Manila.

"Kumpleto ang aking mga anak sa bakuna, hanggang 'yung bunso ko may flu vaccine pa, ako meron sa anti-cervical cancer. Hindi ako laban sa ibang bakuna," she added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, in a statement last week, said that Acosta's "baseless claims and accusations" linked to the Dengvaxia mess led to the "decline in vaccine confidence and rise in cases of measles and other preventable diseases."

Acosta, for her part, washed her hands off the vaccination scare and reiterated that it is the mandate of the DOH to promote immunization programs.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra defended Acosta and said that she was just only doing her job.

The Palace also said that Acosta should not be blamed.

"The PAO chief as a lawyer is defending or pursuing the theory that favors the clients. In other words she’s pursuing an advocacy, an impassioned one. I cannot blame her for that," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday declared the measles outbreak in Calabarzon, National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas. — MDM, GMA News