House to reopen Dengvaxia probe

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on good government plans to reopen next month its inquiry into the culpability of former and present government officials involved in the allegedly anomalous purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccines in 2015. 

“We will try to tie up some loose ends. Probably, we can still hold a hearing or two,” Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, chairman of the committee, said yesterday.

Romualdo took over the panel formerly headed by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, which held joint hearings on the Dengvaxia mess with the committee on health chaired by Quezon Rep. Helen Tan.

While the previous hearings may have covered about 80 percent of the issues regarding the anti-dengue vaccine, Romualdo said there are concerns that still need to be threshed out. 

The Pimentel committee was not able to release its report on the Dengvaxia mess.

Among those facing charges over the Dengvaxia controversy before the Department of Justice were former president Benigno Aquino III, former budget secretary Florencio Abad, former health chief Janette Garin and officials of Sanofi.

Some 900,000 school children received Dengvaxia shots during a massive dengue immunization program in 2016. 

Sanofi, however, admitted in November last year that the vaccine may pose risks to those who have no history of dengue infection.