The House of Representatives is holding its second hearing on the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque told lawmakers that parents now are afraid to let doctors administer ordinary vaccines even for the most benign medical purposes.
"Dengvaxia controversy has tainted government's immunization program. It has caused a sharp drop in our immunization program," he said.
"We get reports from Zamboanga that parents are resisting the deworming activities of the DOH," he noted.
Nevertheless, Duque said he is urging health workers to continue convincing the public that other immunization programs of the DOH, which do not involve Dengvaxia, are extremely crucial to prevent deaths.
He also said the threat of dengue remains a huge threat in the lives of Filipinos.
