Senate aspirant Doc Willie Ong on Dengvaxia: Duda na kami umpisa pa lang

© dzbb Dr. Willie Ong

Senatorial aspirant Dr. Willie Ong on Wednesday said he had strongly opposed administering the controversial Dengvaxia dengue vaccine to children.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV's "Ikaw Na Ba?" series of senatorial interviews, Ong said he has been vocal against the dengue vaccine as early as 2015.

"Itong sa Dengvaxia, 2015 pa, 2016 pa marami na 'ko ginawang video, marami na 'ko sinulat at kasama 'ko sa grupo na tumututol dito," Ong said.

"Ang problema kasi sa Dengvaxia noong una pa lang puwede siya ibigay sa mga bata na nine years old and above pero 'yung mga wala pang nine years old, medyo hindi maganda resulta ng Dengvaxia," he said.

"Magtataka tayo, maganda sa may edad pero 'di maganda sa bata. Duda na kami noong umpisa. Ang problema sa one million na nabigyan, hindi dapat nabigay 'yung Dengvaxia sa mga 150 to 200,000 na mga bata. Ang tsansa kasi na [magkaroon ng dengue] tataas din... mga 10 to 15 percent," Ong said.

The Dengvaxia controversy started when Sanofi Pasteur, manufacturer of the vaccine, announced in November 2017 that Dengvaxia posed a serious health risk to those who were not previously infected by the virus.

The announcement came after the vaccine has been administered to more than 800,000 children as well as some adults and policemen.

Some of the children's deaths have been linked to Dengvaxia by the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said public trust in vaccines dropped to 33 percent from 92 percent because of the Dengvaxia controversy.

Ong, a cardiologist, believes that some government officials should be held accountable for the Dengvaxia mess so it will not happen again.

"Yes, dapat mayroon. Para 'di na maulit," he said.

Ong is running under the Lakas-Christian Muslims Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.

He vowed that to push for cheaper medicines as well as more accessible health care for the public at large, especially the poor. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News