Government to procure P7.5 billion worth of vaccines in 2018

MANILA, Philippines — The Duterte administration is set to buy P7.5 billion worth of vaccines this year, prompting warnings from senators to ensure that these are safe to prevent a repeat of the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy.

Costing P7.43 billion, the 2018 public vaccination program targets full immunization of 2.7 million infants, of whom 1.4 million will be given pneumococcal vaccine.

All 2.7 million infants will also be administered Japanese encephalitis vaccine. 

In addition, 2.1 million Grade 1 and 1.7 million Grade 7 pupils will benefit from anti-tetanus-diptheria and measles vaccines. 

Tetanus vaccine will also be given to 2.7 million pregnant women, while 1.2 million flu shots and 1.3 million pneumococcal vaccines will be administered to seniors. 

Based on documents submitted by the Department of Health (DOH) to the Senate, full immunization for infants covers inoculations against hepatitis, polio, pneumonia, measles, mumps and rubella.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto warned there should not be a repeat of the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia controversy.

French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur admitted that Dengvaxia could trigger life-threatening complications to children who have not yet contracted dengue.

There were about 830,000 children inoculated with Dengvaxia since April 2016. The vaccination program was suspended when the advisory came out, even as Sanofi Pasteur maintained its vaccine remains safe and efficacious.

Plunder charges have been filed against former president Benigno Aquino III and other officials of the previous administration over the purchase of the vaccine.

“If there’s one lesson to be learned from this it is that Filipino children should not be made guinea pigs again,” Recto said. 

“Whether we like it or not, one side effect of this unfortunate incident is that people are asking if the vaccines to be bought using taxpayers’ money are safe.

“I know that they are, but the DOH must still go out of its way in assuring the public that next year’s vaccines meet the highest standards,” he added.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, chairman of the Senate health committee, said the panel may set its next hearing into Dengvaxia in early February.

The Blue Ribbon committee last December held another hearing into the controversy.

The Senate will also prioritize the passage of the proposed Universal Health Care Bill as endorsed by President Duterte.

Senate Bill 1458, or the proposed Universal Health Care for All Filipinos Act, seeks to provide more health care services to children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

Ejercito, who chairs the Senate committee on health, said the panel will hold one or two more hearings before drafting the final version of the bill, which seeks to entitle every Filipino to preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care services.

The bill seeks to amend Republic Act 7875, otherwise known as the National Health Insurance Act of 1995 as amended by Republic Act 10606.

“It will unburden poor families from financial difficulties when paying for these services. It will improve our people’s health-seeking behavior and guarantee affordable medical attention for everyone at home, at work, in school or anywhere in the country,” Ejercito said.

He said the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is also asking Congress to allow them to increase their premiums by 2019 to allow it to improve health facilities in anticipation of universal health services coverage.

Ejercito said he made visits to several government health centers across the country and found out that most of the hospitals have 200 percent to 300 percent occupancy. As a result, many patients are lying along corridors or placed in gymnasiums converted into wards.