PAO files 30th Dengvaxia case vs Janette Garin, 38 others

MANILA, Philippines — The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) yesterday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) its 30th Dengvaxia case against former health secretary Janette Garin and 38 other officials in connection with the death of a 12-year-old girl.

Kristel Jean Magtira is reportedly the latest casualty of the anti-dengue vaccine that has reached the DOJ. PAO chief Persida Acosta accompanied the victim’s parents Ginalyn and Christopher in filing the case.

The PAO filed charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, violation of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and violation of the Consumer Act of the Philippines against Garin, other DOH officials and officials of Sanofi Pasteur Inc., manufacturer of the Dengvaxia vaccine, and Zuellig Pharma Corp., distributor of the vaccine in the country.

On April 5, 2016 a free vaccination program against dengue took place at Magtira’s school, Pasig Elementary School in Candaba, Pampanga. After being informed of the vaccination program, Ginalyn signed a waiver stating that she agreed with her daughter’s inoculation.

The younger Magtira received three doses of the vaccine – on April 5, 2016; Oct. 6, 2016 and June 28, 2017.

“Prior to receiving the vaccine, Kristel was healthy and strong. She has never been hospitalized until after receiving Dengvaxia. She never had any serious illness prior to her vaccination. She received no notable medication other than Dengvaxia,” according to the complaint.

Last Jan. 8, she started having on-and-off fever and two days later began vomiting. She died on Jan. 13.

The PAO forensic team said Matira reportedly died of “intracranial and intracerebral hemorrhage, extensive, non-traumatic, the antecedent and underlying causes of which were multi-organ hemorrhage and failure and neurotropic-like disease and viscerotropic-like disease secondary to Dengvaxia vaccination,” which was alleged to be a result of the yellow fever vaccine backbone of Dengvaxia.

Meanwhile, relatives of Dengvaxia victims staged a rally outside the DOJ and requested that it release its resolution on the first batch of Dengvaxia cases consisting of nine complaints.