MANILA--Three more cases involving deaths of schoolchildren who were administered the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, have been filed Tuesday before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
With the help of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), parents and guardians of Micaeilla Kayla S. Mainit, Aldrid Aberia and Analisa Silverio filed the fresh cases involving the controversial product.
Meanwhile, the PAO also submitted to the prosecution panel handling the case as part of its evidence the order of the Department of Health (DOH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which permanently revoked the pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur Inc.'s certificates of product registration of Dengvaxia.
The order addressed to the firm's Regulatory Affairs Manager Anna Lea F. Remandas, was signed by FDA Director General Nela Charade Puno, directing Sanofi to "immediately surrender the original certificates of product registrations (CPRs) of Dengvaxia".
"Furthermore, respondent Sanofi is strictly reminded that pursuant to the revocation of the CPRs of the said products it is unlawful to import or distribute the subject product," reads the FDA order dated Dec. 21,2018.
The DOH earlier urged the public to observe preventive measures against dengue to contain the increase of cases nationwide.
Director Napoleon Arevalo of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau stressed the importance of the "4S" strategy-- search and destroy mosquito breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation and support fogging or spraying only in hotspot areas.
The DOH has recorded 17,801 dengue cases in the first weeks of 2019, with 75 deaths as of February 2 this year.
The agency only recorded 14,825 cases of the disease from January to February last year. (PNA)
