PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, August 8, said he is open to the proposal of reviving the Dengvaxia vaccination program in the wake of the declaration of a national dengue epidemic.

In a chance interview with Palace reporters, Duterte said he was amenable to any proposal aimed at "saving people's lives," especially now that over 600 people have died of dengue fever.

"I am in a quandary to whether allow Dengvaxia or not. Ako (Me), I'd rather go on the side of science. If nobody would believe me, still, I would say that if there's anything there in the Western medicine and even itong mga herbal ng (the herbals in) Oriental, if it would mean saving people's lives, I'll go for it," the President said.

"Yes, I am open to the use of Dengvaxia again. Maraming patay na (Many have died already). It's epidemic," he added.

The P3-billion anti-dengue vaccination program was scrapped on December 1, 2017, after Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur revealed findings that those inoculated with Dengvaxia but haven't contracted the disease yet could contract severe dengue.

More than 800,000 children received Dengvaxia shots under the inoculation program launched in April 2016.

On Tuesday, August 6, 2019, the Department of Health (DOH) declared a national dengue epidemic after it recorded 146,062 dengue cases from January to July 20, 2019, a 98 percent increase from the number of cases in the same period in 2018.

Of the 146,062 people infected with dengue, 622 people have died, the DOH said.

The proposal to reintroduce the Dengvaxia vaccine in the current administration's health program was made by former Health secretary and Iloilo Representative Janette Garin, who had been indicted for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide over deaths allegedly caused by Dengvaxia.

Duterte said he would seek the advice of Filipino experts with regard to the proposed revival of the Dengvaxia vaccination program.

"Now, compare it vis-a-vis with those who died, I want to hear the words of the experts, doctors. And we have enough bright people here to tell us. I do not need foreigners to tell me. My own Filipino scientists and doctors would tell me what to do. I will be guided by their announcements," he said.

On August 2, Malacañang guaranteed that the possible revival of vaccination program amid the rising dengue cases in the country will not absolve Garin and others of wrongdoing. (SunStar Philippines)