Ex-DOH chief Cabral says PAO sensationalizing Dengvaxia issue

Former Health secretary Esperanza Cabral on Tuesday accused the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) of sowing fear and panic among the public by allegedly sensationalizing the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy.

In an interview on Unang Balita, Cabral clarified that the Doctors for Public Welfare does not want to stop the autopsy on alleged Dengvaxia victims.

She said the group only wanted other agencies to conduct the autopsy, instead of the PAO.

"Marami namang ibang mahuhusay diyan na pwedeng mag-autopsy sa mga bata kung kailangan at magagawa nila ito sa isang paraan na sayantipiko at hindi sa telebisyon lumalabas na mula doon sa bangkay na hiniwa nila, dugo dugo pa 'yong kamay nila ay sasabihin nila kaagad sa telebisyon na ay itong bata na ito ay palagay ko ay may dengue at itong dahilan ng pagkamatay ay Dengvaxia," she explained.

She said that nothing could be proven by just physically examining and removing the internal organs of a deceased person.

"Kinuha pa lamang nila yung mga internal organs at kailangan pag-aralan pa 'yon. Sinasabi nila na merong dengue iyong bata at dahil 'yon sa Dengvaxia," she said, referring to the 14 children autopsied by PAO.

She said that the pronouncement of PAO was recently belied by the findings of the Department of Health's panel of experts. Of the 14 children, only three were confirmed to have died due to dengue within 30 days after being vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

"Marami tayong mga kailangan pag-aralan kung saan tayo nagkamali pero isa sa palagay ko ay iyong sensationalism na ginagawa natin sa mga issues na ganito na hindi natin iniisip sa umpisa kung ano iyong larger implication nito sa kalusugan at sa mga public health programs ng ating bansa," Cabral added.

She said that the Dengvaxia issue should be tackled in a "level-headed, scientific manner."

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III had admitted that there has been a decrease in the number of people who are availing of the government's immunization program due to the Dengvaxia scare.

In a separate Unang Balita interview, PAO chief Persida Acosta denied that they are trying to sensationalize the Dengvaxia issue.

Acosta clarified that the PAO was ordered by the Department of Justice to assist the "possible" Dengvaxia victims.

She added that the findings of PAO's experts are backed up by "clinical records, history, diagnostic tests, X-ray, laboratory exams."

Acosta said that the scientific basis of PAO's experts for their findings on the Dengvaxia issue is more extensive than that of the UP-PGH group.

"Si Secretary Duque mismo ang umamin na walang specimen ang UP-PGH na pinag-aral niya, puro clinical records lang ang ginawa ng mga nurses at pinirmahan ng mga doktor," the lawyer said.

She added that Cabral must be mistaken with her basis for saying that the PAO is sensationalizing the issue.

"'Yong sinasabi niya na sine-sensationalize lang ng mga media ay mukhang mali ho 'yun dahil ang PAO nung December 12 lang po inatasan ng DOJ, ni Secretary Aguirre," Acosta said.

"Ngayon, sinasabi nilang bakit may dugo 'yung kamay. 'Yun nga ang katunayan na may extensive bleeding ang internal organs ng mga bata 'pag binuksan. Bakit nagdugo ang utak, ang lungs, may buo-buong parang jelly ace? 'Yun po yung sinasabi ng mga eksperto ng WHO (World Health Organization) na may shock syndrome," she added.

Cabral's relation to Zuellig

Cabral, meanwhile, admitted that she is one of the board of trustees of Zuellig Family Foundation which was established by Zuellig Pharma, the distributor of Dengvaxia in the country.

She, however, denied that the foundation has any relationship with Sanofi as the former is a "charitable foundation" focused on "rural development, poverty reduction, [and] maternal health."

"Walang kinalaman sa Sanofi itong Zuellig Family Foundation. Hindi tumatanggap ng pera mula sa Sanofi itong Zuellig Family Foundation at kami naman sa mga board of trustees... ni singko sentimos ay wala kaming tinatanggap para pangasiwaan namin itong Zuellig Family Foundation na ito," Cabral said.

At least 830,000 public school students have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, and Cebu according to DOH.

The vaccination program was put on hold in December last year following Sanofi Pasteur's advisory that Dengvaxia should not be given to patients who have not had dengue in the past as it may cause severe diseases in the long run. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/ALG/KG, GMA News