Dengvaxia case not a lost cause – Leachon
DR. Anthony Leachon, a health reform advocate and former special adviser for non-communicable diseases at the Department of Health (DOH), said he empathizes with a group of parents whose children's deaths were linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine after the Department of Justice (DOJ) junked the 98 cases filed against former health secretary and now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin and several other government officials, as well as top executives of vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and vaccine distributor Zuellig Pharma in 2019.
The vaccine, procured by the DOH for P3.5 billion for a nationwide jab campaign in 2015, was allegedly not evaluated thoroughly for safety and efficacy, leading to the death of many children.
«They have been searching for answers while hoping that one day, those responsible will be held accountable. But instead of justice, what they have received is silence, dismissal, and now, an aggressive campaign to erase the truth,» Leachon said.
Dr. Anthony Leachon. Photo by Rio Deluvio«This is not just about statistics or court cases — this is about 196 innocent children who should have been safe, playing, laughing and growing up with their families. But they are gone. And yet, the people who allowed this to happen continue to walk free, wielding power, influence, and wealth to rewrite history,» he added.
Leachon alleged that the powerful people involved in the case were spending billions of pesos on public relations campaigns to erase the memory of the tragedy.
He claimed that similar cases filed before the Office of the Ombudsman and Sandiganbayan against Garin and her co-respondents were stalled.
AdvertisementLeachon said a petition was filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) before the Court of Appeals to revive the first batch of eight Dengvaxia cases dismissed by a Quezon City regional trial court.
«The OSG's challenge to the court's decision is a reminder that not everyone in the system has turned their back on the truth. It is a reminder that there are still those willing to fight, despite the overwhelming influence and resources of those who wish to bury this case,» he added.