WHO issues new recommendation

MANILA, Philippines — The World Health Organization has issued a recommendation that Dengvaxia should not be administered to people who have not had dengue before.

The WHO said that while Dengvaxia "prevents disease in the majority of vaccine recipients but it should not be administered to people who have not previously been infected with dengue virus."

The new recommendation is issued based on the findings of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety.

For those who received a vaccine but has not had dengue before, WHO "recommends enhancing measures that reduce exposure to dengue infection among populations where the vaccine has already been administered."

Those who received vaccine and are showing signs compatible with a dengue virus, should immediately seek medical care to "allow proper evaluation, identification, and management of severe forms of the disease."

WHO Representative to the Philippines Gundo Aurel Weiler, on Thursday's Senate probe, said that the WHO tapped two committees to look into the new data following the Dengvaxia controversy in the Philippines.

Weiler said that a second group of experts are formed to focus on immunization.

The group will look into scenarios surrounding the controversy: "What happened to those vaccinated, those who were not vaccinated, those who only had one dose, compared to those who had three."

Weiler said that the WHO is waiting for the recommendation from its two expert groups to "support the Department of Health in making the best decision on how to take this forward."

The Senate's blue ribbon and Health committees continued their probe on Thursday morning. Among the resource speakers in attendance are former President Benigno Aquino III, former Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa, and former Budget Secretary Butch Abad.