"'Wag na nilang guluhin ang pamamahala ni Pres. BBM. Maawa naman sila sa bansa natin."
[Stop interfering with the leadership of President Bongbong Marcos. Have mercy on our country.]
This was the plea of Public Attorney's Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta following the recommendations of some health experts to reconsider the use of Dengvaxia vaccine in the country amid the rising dengue cases.
Based on the data from the Department of Health, dengue cases from January to June of this year have reached 64,797, a 90% increase from 34,074 in 2021 covering the same period.
In an interview with DZRH's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas, Acosta said she is against the use of the controversial vaccine, which allegedly caused the death of at least 166 individuals, mostly young students.
"'Wag na nila isama si Pres. BBM [Bongbong Marcos] sa problema nila," the PAO chief said. "'Wag naman igaya nila sa ginawa nila sa panahon ni PNoy [Noynoy Aquino] na pati si PNoy ay na-drag sa experimentation na gamit Dengvaxia."
[Don't include President Bongbong Marcos in your problem. Don't let the same incident they did during the time of former president Noynoy Aquino happen where he was dragged with their experimentation of the use of Dengvaxia.]
It was in 2016, under the administration of the late president Noynoy Aquino when the Dengvaxia vaccination program for young students began. However, the public was hounded with fear after some students fell ill and eventually died after receiving their doses.
The product registration of the vaccine was first suspended in December 2017 after Sanofi announced the results of its clinical data analysis which found that Dengvaxia is riskier for people not previously infected by the virus. The DOH previously said there is no solid proof to link Dengvaxia to the fatalities.
Acosta also called out Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious diseases expert and former health secretary and Iloilo Representative Janette Garin following their recommendations on the use of Dengvaxia.
