Sanofi Asia Pacific Head Thomas Triomphe appeared before the joint hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and Senate Health Committee today in a bid to clear up the controversy behind its anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.
Triomphe told lawmakers that Dengvaxia remains "good, safe and effective."
He further claimed that "Philippines stands to benefit most from Dengvaxia" as he cited the high level of dengue cases in the country.
Triomphe also stressed that "not a single death has been linked to the vaccine."
He noted that the vaccine has not been taken off the shelves of drug stores in other countries.
Former Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial also testified during the hearing.
As Health assistant secretary in 2016, she was part of the team that implemented the nationwide immunization program that used Dengvaxia vaccine.
Ubial admitted that she knew the risk that the vaccine posed from the very start.
She learned about this from concerns aired by other doctors.
She claimed that she was under intense pressure at that time so she had no choice but to go along with the program of the Department of Health.
