Don’t let your baby die

But mothers are, are because they’ve been misinformed by a media looking for headlines, and heartless, thoughtless people looking for aggrandizement.

The hysteria created over Dengvaxia back in December 2017 was based on no factual proofs, only some initial unsubstantiated reports of some children dying who’d been in the inoculation program. At that time there was no sufficient forensic evidence to link those deaths to  Dengvaxia yet that’s what those people did.

I argued strongly at the time to wait for such proof, and explained how unlikely it was the drug caused them. That, in fact, the drug probably saved a number of lives. Fake news overrode my arguments.

Now some Department of Health (DOH) officials and Sanofi are being pilloried in court for deaths based on this hysterical reaction. On January 15 this year, DOH officials told senators during plenary debates on the DOH budget that after autopsy there were no deaths due to Dengvaxia.

In the Caraga region last year, there were 6,788 cases of dengue versus 2,631 in 2017. That’s a huge, and frightening 158 percent increase. Of this, 22 people died. If the generated hysteria over Dengvaxia had not resulted in its withdrawal, it may have saved some of those 22. And certainly would have greatly reduced the number who suffered.

At the height of the hysteria over Dengvaxia, Persida Acosta, the head of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) (that has no known expertise on health), together with her cohorts led by a certain Dr. Erwin Erfe claimed that 60 children had died with NO medical proof of that. She was a very vocal accuser, she has much to answer for. She may want to search her conscience. I’ll be blunt about it, I believe she’s guilty of indirect manslaughter by her irresponsible actions. The media didn’t help either with its desire for explosive headlines. I’m told (I haven’t listened to a radio in decades) Noli de Castro continues to air a list of those who died because of Dengvaxia. Where does he get this information from? Perhaps he could enlighten the DOH.

Dengvaxia is used in many countries — with no controversy. Over 20 countries have approved its use. When properly applied, it has worked. Dengue mosquitos breed in (filthy, dirty,) stagnant water. So keeping your environment clean with no stagnant water anywhere. Not in tins, not in tires, not in pots. Nowhere has to be the aim. This would greatly reduce this nasty disease. But until that happens  ( in a country that just throws its trash without a thought) dengue will plague many, leading to the death of people who should live. So a vaccine that reduces this should have been welcomed, not hysterically, unfactually banned. A rethink of its use needs to be done by revisiting the issues that led to this situation under the bright light of credible scientific evidence not hysterical ignorance.

And, now because of the hysteria it’s not just dengue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles cases in the Philippines are up 367% to 17,298 reported cases from January to November 2018 from 3,706 reported measles cases for the same period in 2017. This is because mothers were scared due to the Dengvaxia hysteria created by Media and Persida Acosta.

The situation is now so bad that San Lazaro has to turn away sick people because there are no beds left, 95 percent in the ER are suffering from measles.

It’s the same in America, measles has recently made a worrying comeback from being completely eliminated. It has because as CNN said “measles has risen because parents aren’t vaccinating their children in fear from misinformation and lies from people who don’t know what they’re talking about.”

The DOH now has its work cut out convincing mothers that vaccination of their children is essential in keeping their kids healthy. Doctors and the media could help. And a re-examination of Dengvaxia undertaken as to its possible use if correctly applied.

I suggest you also read the well-constructed column of Orlando Oxales in the Manila Standard on January 28 for further enlightenment on this important issue.

As we see now, one year later, the hysteria has resulted in mothers too fearful of inoculating their children with any vaccine. Mothers need to realize that vaccination is a desirable, even an essential thing to do to protect their child. Vaccines work, and work safely. They have been responsible for eliminating polio and smallpox, for instance.  Please mothers, do it. Protect your baby. Mothers inoculate your children—keep them healthy.

E-mail: wallace_likeitis@wbf.ph