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The vaccine Dengvaxia, Sanofi (image of illustration). Reuters

The Philippines declares dengue national epidemic. The Minister of Health, Francisco Duque, announced it at a press conference from Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Philippine Armed Forces. Since mid-January, more than 146,000 Filipinos have contracted the virus, according to the authorities, twice as many as the same period in 2018. 622 have died. But the government of Rodrigo Duterte refuses for the moment to reintroduce in the country the first world vaccine against dengue, developed three years ago.

This first global vaccine against dengue fever is Dengvaxia. To understand why the Philippine government does not want more, we must go back several years. Sanofi, the French pharmaceutical giant that develops the vaccine, wanted to market it at the time. In 2015, the group won its first contract with the Philippines.

Manila gives go-ahead to massive public vaccination campaign In a few months, 800,000 Filipinos receive an injection. But very soon, suspicious deaths attract the attention of the Philippine authorities.

At the same time, Sanofi says vaccinating people who have never been infected with dengue fever could increase the risk of illness. Specifically, the vaccine Dengvaxia would turn against Filipinos uncontaminated. Manila has attacked several Sanofi officials in court. The vaccine has since been approved in some 20 countries.

Despite the epidemic that is raging today, especially in the center of the country, the authorities do not want to reintroduce the vaccine in a rushed way. The Philippines does not close the door completely to Dengvaxia. Health Minister Francisco Duque said he plans to return to the national market, but in a controlled manner.