Press Release
January 20, 2018

GORDON BATS FOR TRANSPARENCY IN DOH-SANOFI DISCUSSIONS;

To dispel further public suspicion that may arise, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee wants the apparently ongoing discussions between the Department of Health (DOH) and French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur made transparent.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, chair of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations (Blue Ribbon), said Sanofi should not only meet with the DOH but also with various health experts.

"People are already very anxious and enraged by the latest developments in this anomalous issue, what with forensic examination on the exhumed body of several children who received the Dengvaxia vaccine showing emerging patterns that led to their deaths. It may further fuel public suspicion if the meetings will not be made transparent," he explained.

The Blue Ribbon Committee will conduct its fourth hearing on Monday, January 22, to tackle the issues on the undue haste of procuring the vaccines and the accountability of the Office of the President, the DOH, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Budget and Management, and other agencies that may be involved.

"While charges in courts may already have been filed by certain groups; the duty of Congress to propose recommendations in aid of legislation, particularly on the undue haste of procuring the vaccines, remains to be in place. It is Congress' duty to make people aware of these issues," Gordon stressed.

Sanofi has asked for a meeting with the DOH to discuss the reimbursement and ways to give the public a "more balanced and evidence-based" perspective on the dengue vaccine and the national vaccination program in general. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said his is willing to sit down with Sanofi.

The French pharmaceutical company has earlier agreed to reimburse the government for the P1.4 billion unused stock of dengue vaccine Dengvaxia stored at DOH warehouses.

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