MANILA, Philippines — Dream on, Sanofi.
This was the message of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque to Sanofi Pasteur, noting that the pharmaceutical giant should not be overconfident as the government is still conducting its probe.
“They must be dreaming if they think they’re off the hook,” Roque said in a press briefing Monday.
Roque cited the complaint filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption against former president Benigno Aquino III and other former government officials for allegedly committing an election offense and the allegation that Sanofi did not fully disclose the possible risks of the dengue vaccine.
The presidential spokesperson clarified that the findings of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital do not mean that Sanofi has been cleared from the Dengvaxia mess.
“Let’s not make any conclusion. I’m also appealing to even some members of the government: Wala pa pong final findings ang National Bureau of Investigation. No one is responsible and no one is off the hook at this stage. Dream on, Sanofi,” he said.
READ: Sanofi: Refund for used vaccines 'would imply Dengvaxia ineffective'
On Monday, Sanofi declined the government’s request for refund on used Dengvaxia doses as doing so “would imply that the vaccine is ineffective”—an assertion the French drug maker disputes.
Last month, the company agreed to refund the DOH for unused Dengvaxia vials worth P1.4 billion. It, however, maintained that the decision to heed the DOH’s demand is “not related to any safety or quality with Dengvaxia."
It also rejected DOH’s request to financially support the indemnification fund for the families of the affected children because “there are no safety or quality concerns about the Dengvaxia vaccine.”
Sanofi cited the review of the UP-PGH panel, which found out that only three of the 14 children who died after being vaccinated with Dengvaxia contracted dengue.
READ: Only 3 of 14 Dengvaxia-linked deaths due to dengue, says UP-PGH panel
Palace rejects calls to stop autopsies
Roque also rejected the call of a group of heath experts and practitioners, including former Health chief Esperanza Cabral, to stop performing autopsies on children who allegedly died after being vaccinated with Dengvaxia.
He cited the report of the UP-PGH, which said that autopsies may have to be conducted to determine the reasons behind the children’s death.
“We’re not telling anyone to stop what they are doing. We’re just saying that we’re flatly rejecting the call of physicians to put an end to exhumation,” Roque said.
He added: “The position of the government is that we’re in search of the truth. We will resort to autopsy whenever it’s needed.”
More than 830,000 people have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia since it was launched during the term of former Health Secretary Janette Garin.
The Dengvaxia fiasco has sparked public panic, with many parents refusing to have their children immunized.
READ: Duque: Leave Dengvaxia investigation to experts