Iloilo First District Representative Janette Garin on Tuesday, Oct. 1, vowed to step down from her post if the Dengvaxia vaccine caused the death of some children.

The former Department of Health secretary stood firm that the anti-dengue vaccine does not cause deaths.

Garin and Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza had a heated exchange of words over the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Atienza, in his privilege speech, slammed Garin for accusing him of spreading “fake news” regarding dengvaxia and tetanus toxoid vaccines during the deliberations on Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy’s privilege speech on Monday, Sept. 30, on the public’s loss of confidence to vaccinations amid the reemergence of polio.

“I will prove that she (Garin) is wrong and that she is guilty of some wrongdoing in government. If she proves that I have infected this chamber with fake news, I’m willing to be prosecuted and I’m willing to resign [from] my position,” he said.

Atienza dared Garin to a televised debate. “Whoever wins in the debate will remain in Congress of the Philippines because the loser should, by delicadeza, resign,” he said.

Garin replied: “The challenge for me to resign, if indeed Dengvaxia causes deaths, surely, I welcome and I accept that. I’ve been saying that several times, dengue vaccine does not cause deaths,” she said.

“I will not back out but I will still stand firm in saying that vaccine and vaccination save lives. Maski sangkatutak na kaso ang ipatong sa akin, I will not stop in speaking of the truth, because why will I be afraid in doing my duty?” she added.

In April 2016, the DOH under Garin’s term launched the dengue school-based immunization program in the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.

The government allocated P3.5 billion for the program.

In December 2017, the DOH suspended the vaccination program after manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur reported that Dengvaxia should not be recommended to individuals if they have never been infected with the dengue virus. 

It warned that the vaccine may cause “more severe dengue cases” on those who may contract the disease for the first time.

According to the DOH, more than 800 thousand school children received Dengvaxia, the world’s first dengue vaccine.IMT