DOH may use savings from sin tax revenues for dengue vaccines

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) is considering using the savings from sin tax incremental revenues to buy the world’s first anti-dengue vaccines recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In a television interview on ANC recently, Health Secretary Janette Garin said the agency is making this proposal so they could immediately avail of Dengvaxia, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi.

Garin noted that the vaccine could be available in the market early next year in single and multiple doses.

The Philippines, through the FDA, was the second country to approve Dengvaxia, a tetravalent dengue vaccine for the prevention of disease caused by all four dengue types in individuals from nine to 45 years of age and who are living in endemic areas.

Earlier this month, Mexico had also granted marketing approval to Dengvaxia. The vaccine is being reviewed by some countries in Asia and Latin America.

Garin maintained in an earlier interview that it is the “pride” of the Philippines to approve the vaccine, especially since the country played a crucial role in its clinical development.

She added that the Philippines had participated in phases 1, 2 and 3 of the clinical trial, while other countries took part only in phase 3.

The health chief said because of this, the Philippines’ public health sector is a priority of Sanofi Pasteur in terms of pricing.

Garin said this will boost the DOH’s efforts to include the dengue vaccine in its expanded program on immunization.