Dengue vaccines now available in the country

MANILA, Philippines – A pharmaceutical firm on Thursday confirmed that the world’s first ever dengue vaccine is now available in the country.

During the official launch of the vaccine on Thursday, Sanofi Pasteur Country Manager Ching Santos said the doses of dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia arrived in the country last week and was available since Wednesday.

“The delivery of the vaccines was last week, so yesterday available na siya... As we speak today it is available already,” Santos said.

Santos said interested patients may now ask their doctor whether they are qualified to be vaccinated by dengvaxia.

“The doctors can actually place their orders so that by Saturday pwede na tayo pumunta sa doctors para itanong at ma-asses tayo whether we can be vaccinated between today and the coming days,” Santos said.

Dengvaxia was only granted marketing approval by the Food and Drug Administration last December. It is the first vaccine for the prevention of dengue licensed in Asia.

Department of Health Secretary Janette Garin said the health agency will spend a total of P3.5 billion for the dengue immunization program for over 3,000 public school students in areas with high incidence of dengue.

Garin said the government will implement school-based immunization for Grade 4 students in the National Capital Region, Regions 3 and 4A on April, May and June.

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