Garin: Some sectors using vaccinated kids to sow panic

MANILA, Philippines — Former Health Secretary Janette Garin, who was attacked by furious parents after a House hearing on Monday, said the families of Dengvaxia-vaccinated children are being used by some sectors to fan hysteria.

In an interview on ANC’s “Headstart” Tuesday, Garin said the Dengvaxia controversy is “being taken out of context.”

“I empathize with the families who are grieving. But it’s a pity if they are being abused by some sectors. Because instead of moving forward or taking care of their children who are in school, they are being brought to rallies, demonstrations and they are being made as a front and a picture to make other parents panic,” she said.

The former Health secretary said the hysteria does not only hurt the government’s immunization programs, but it also destroys the whole health sector.

“Why are we deviating the issue to the fact that we have to deal with Sanofi, with the vaccine? We need to hear from the World Health Organization. We have to know what to do and we have to tell the parents the truth,” Garin said.

During the House probe into the Dengavaxia fiasco Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III noted that many parents are now refusing to get their children immunized after the disclosure of French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur that Dengvaxia poses potential threats to individuals who had no prior dengue infection.

Health Undersecretary Enrique Domingo on Friday said that the immunization rates for polio, chicken pox, tetanus and other diseases have gone down significantly.

Duque also appealed to the public not to heighten what he dubbed “misinformation” on the drug.

READ: Duque: Leave Dengvaxia investigation to experts

'Drama'

Garin downplayed the attempted attack by the mothers of Dengvaxia-vaccinated kids as a “drama.”

“They were just making all the drama. I’m sorry to say this. And somebody was saying: ‘The Public Attorney’s Office told us to go here and attack you’” she said.

Garin said she thought the parents were at the lower house to demand for dialogue.

“It did not really happen. They were not demanding for dialogue. One of them pulled my dress, one of them slapped me in the left chest area. It was good my lawyer was there,” she said.

Reports said the raging women who assaulted Garin admitted that none of their children had actually died. 

More than 830,000 people have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia since it was launched during the term of former Health Secretary Janette Garin.

READ: Only 3 of 14 Dengvaxia-linked deaths due to dengue, says UP-PGH panel