The Public Attorneys’ Office has asked the Department of Justice to prosecute former Health Secretary Janette Garin and 38 others, in connection for the death of a 12-year-old girl who was inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine.
In another criminal complaint filed with the DOJ on Friday, Christopher and Ginalyn Magtira, parents of Kristel Jean Magtira, accused Garin and other respondents of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and violations of the Anti-Torture Act and Consumer Act.
The latest complaint has brought to 30 the number of cases filed by families of children whose deaths were allegedly due to the controversial dengue immunization program of the Aquino administration.
Besides Garin, also included as respondents were several current and former health officials as well as the executives of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur and distributor Zuellig Pharma.
Just like in previous complaints, Garin and others were accused of negligence for their failure to obtain the consent and inform the Dengvaxia recipients and their parents or families of the dangers and risks related to the vaccine.
Kristel received three doses of the vaccine on April 5, 2016, Oct. 6, 2016 and June 28, 2017.
Based on the complaint, Kristel started having fever on Jan. 8, 2018. Her condition worsened when she started vomiting and eventually became comatose three days later. She died on Jan. 13, 2018.
Based on her death certificate, the immediate cause of her death was the swelling and bleeding of her brain.
On Nov. 29, 2017, Sanofi has issued an advisory stating that “for those not previously infected by dengue virus, however,the analysis found that in the longer term, more cases of severe disease could occur following the vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection.”
Kristel’s parents said their daughter was healthy and has not had any serious medical ailment before she was given the vaccine.
