STA. ROSA CITY, Laguna – A Laguna lawmaker wants the PHP 1.1-billion money returned by the Sanofi firm to the Philippine government following the Dengvaxia brouhaha to serve as the fund source to aid those children adversely affected by Dengvaxia vaccine.
Laguna first district Representative Arlene Arcillas on Thursday said she would bring the matter up in the next Congressional hearing to use the PHP 1.1 B returned by Sanofi as a fund source to defray any cost involved on the ill effects of children vaccinated with Dengvaxia.
“We want everybody protected here, especially with the 4,000 initial vaccinated children in CALABARZON region and where more than 2,900 of them given shots during the community-based program,” Arcillas said.
Arcillas was one of the guests during the “Dengvaxia Forum” held in this city on Thursday morning, along with Health Secretary Dr. Francisco T. Duque III, Undersecretary Mario Villaverde, Assistant Secretary Maria Laxamana, DOH-CALABARZON Regional Director Dr. Rio L. Magpantay, hosted by City Mayor Dan S. Fernandez.
“In cooperation with the DOH and the local government units (LGUs), we assure you to exhaust all means to address the concerns. Nakakalungkot nga lamang po at ito ang naging kinahinatnan (we are saddened that it happened this way),” Arcillas told city officials, constituents, parents and teachers here.
Arcillas, as member of the House Committee on Health chaired by Quezon Representative Dr. Angelina “Helen” Tan, explained that through an act of Congress, some remedies had to be made to help the DOH program for those vaccinated and given assistance in public or community hospitals.
“But, we need to seek remedies for those who avail medical attention from private hospitals, what measures and the expenses involved as the major concern now is among parents with vaccinated children,” she added.
She thanked the DOH through Secretary Duque’s pro-active approach through forums and consultations to allay the fears and apprehensions among parents of the immunized children and government’s assurance to help them.
“Teachers have a large role to play on the list of kids who were vaccinated during the school-based program as they share the burden of addressing the problem at hand,” Arcillas stressed as she lauded parents for coming out to air their concerns.
She urged teachers to help in the monitoring as they were the ones who would have direct supervision of the school-based immunization program.
For this reason, Arcillas vowed to work for the Congressional measure for Sanofi’s refund to form part of the health package for the protection of the immunized children, upon the recommendation of the DOH.
“We are continuing with our investigation in Congress, but foremost in the investigation is to provide maximum health protection and care for the immunized children ,” she stressed so concerned parents and agencies need not worry about sourcing the fund.
She also appealed for providing attention to parents, teachers and those who had been vaccinated for purposes of getting the right immunization records which could help their Congressional committee investigation on the Dengvaxia controversy.
She also enjoined the support of the Philippine Medical Association especially for the community-based immunization on the investigation in aid of legislation through the help of the DOH and the LGUs. (PNA)
