DOJ drops Dengvaxia charges vs Garin, other former health officials

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice withdrew charges against former health secretary and now congresswoman Janette Garin and other former officials over the Dengvaxia controversy.

In a resolution dated January 10 but only made available to the media on Monday, January 27, the department said it did not find enough evidence to support its conviction.

The DOJ absolved Garin, former health undersecretary Gerardo Bayug, and former officer-in-charge director Joyce Ducusin of reckless imprudence.

“In the scheme of things that transpired involving Dengvaxia, we found that the step by step procedures undertaken by respondents-appellants, leading to the implementation of the program do not exhibit inexcusable lack of precaution to hold them liable for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide,” the resolution read.

Dengvaxia was the first dengue vaccine licensed and the Philippines was the first Asian country to approve the commercial sale of the vaccine. The vaccination program was officially launched on April 2016. (TIMELINE: Dengue immunization program for public school students)

Over a year later, drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, clarified that the vaccine poses more risks to people who have never had dengue before. However, that statement was blown out of proportion — with some claiming that getting inoculated with the vaccine has led to the death of young children.

The country had to halt its dengue vaccination program in 2017. Two years later, the Food and Drug Administration revoked Dengvaxia’s certificate of product registration, despite not having concrete findings on the vaccine’s alleged link to the deaths.

However, overseas — such as in the United States and in European countries — Dengvaxia is used without fear.

Back home, the controversy has led to low immunization rates among children in the Philippines.

Bayugo and Ducusin defended themselves in the case, saying that the implementation of the vaccination program was not rushed.

Meanwhile, Garin said the program “was justified” as the dengue cases in the Philippines continued to rise. The former health secretary also noted that they were able to advise the public regarding the risks of having their children vaccinated.

“In the absence of malicious intent on the part of respondents-appellants, they cannot be held liable for conspiring and confederating with one another to commit reckless imprudence,” the resolution read. – with a report from Jairo Bolledo/Rappler.com