Duque says 'baseless' statements damage DOH reputation, affect trust in vaccinesMANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said there is no basis for Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Acosta's claim his department is paying off families of alleged Dengvaxia victims to drop charges. In a statement Thursday, Duque called the accusation of PAO chief Persida Acosta “malicious, baseless and a complete lie.”“Baseless statements like these cause serious damage to our reputation as the primary government entity mandated to protect the health of all Filipinos,” the Health secretary said. Duque said the DOH has tried to reach out to government agencies, including PAO, to resolve the issues surrounding the anti-dengue vaccine that the PAO is blaming for at least 32 deaths. Duque is among current and former Health officials, and officials of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur who are facing complaints over the deaths of those who received the dengue vaccine. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo called the bribery accusation of Acosta a “serious charge.”“She should have substantiated that,” he said in a press briefing Monday.

Source: Philippine Star January 31, 2019 03:31 UTC