The vaccine from the Sanofi laboratory would be effective in protecting people infected with the virus transmitted by the tiger mosquito. On the other hand, in the uninfected, it would be counterproductive and even dangerous. The controversy around dengue vaccine Dengvaxia is swelling in the Philippines, so much so that the government has suspended the vaccination campaign. This Monday, December 4, the Philippine Ministry of Justice opened an investigation into the vaccination of more than 700,000 children against dengue. The objective is to find out whether Sanofi has “allegedly harmed public health” and whether “indictments” could follow against the pharmaceutical group.
The suspension of Dengvaxia use in the Philippines comes days after the Sanofi laboratory, which markets it, suggested that the vaccine could make the virus worse in people who are not exposed. In a November 29 press release, the laboratory summarizes the results of long-term outcome analyzes of the vaccine on “the long-term safety and efficacy of Dengvaxia in people with a history of dengue virus infection, compared to people who had never contracted the virus were analyzed “, specifies Sanofi. “The analysis confirms that Dengvaxia brings a persistent protective effect against dengue, to individuals already infected in the past, specifies Sanofi in a press release. As for people with no history of dengue, the analyzes show that in the longer term at the following vaccination, more severe cases of dengue fever could be observed in the event of exposure to the virus “. It did not take more to trigger the controversy and arouse concern among Filipinos.
No deaths linked to this vaccine, defends Sanofi
Faced with suspicions around the dangerousness of the vaccine, the laboratory defends itself against any adverse effect resulting in death following the vaccination. “From what we know, there has been no case of deathlinked to vaccination against dengue fever, “said Ruby Dizon, medical director at Sanofi Pasteur in the Philippines, during a press conference in Manila taken over by Ouest-France.
Read also:
Dengue vaccine sales are not taking off
Learn more about mosquitoes that carry disease
Sri Lanka calls on army to fight dengue fever