Legarda Files Bill to Allot P1.16-B for Dengvaxia Recipients

Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, today filed a bill to appropriate funds for medical support to those who were administered with the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Senate Bill No. 1794 appropriates Php1,161,710,000 as supplemental budget for 2018 as assistance to Dengvaxia vaccinees.

“This bill seeks to appropriate the said amount to fund the much-needed support to the Dengvaxia vaccine recipients by providing them with medical assistance for hospitalization, medical kits, out-patient care services, including laboratory tests, among others,” said Legarda.

The fund will come from the same amount refunded to the Philippine Government by Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, through its local distributor Zuellig Pharma.

Upon approval of the two houses of Congress and enactment by the President, the supplemental budget will be released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of Health (DOH) to carry out the necessary activities and/or projects for the benefit of Dengvaxia recipients.

Legarda noted that the Dengvaxia vaccine was originally intended to help eradicate, if not reduce, the dengue incidents in the country. “It was unfortunate that it was only after around 800,000 children were already administered with the vaccine that the public was informed of its accompanying risks, particularly to those who have not yet been infected with dengue, at the time of the first vaccine.”

“Tragic deaths of children supposedly linked to Dengvaxia have been reported in the news. I am certain the parents or guardians of these Dengvaxia recipients are worried about their children or ward. Hopefully, this medical assistance program will prevent further deaths and illnesses of those administered with the vaccine, regardless of the cause,” Legarda concluded.