Asean in war against dengue

Making a stand: Protesters against Dengvaxia displaying placards at a rally outside the Department of Health in Manila as they demand accountability over the controversial immunisation programme. — AP

Manila: As hundreds die in a severe dengue outbreak in the Philippines, many of them children, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he was open to lifting his government’s blanket ban on the Dengvaxia vaccine.

Manila prohibited the import, sale and distribution of the drug – manufactured by French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi – after parents blamed it for the deaths of several dozen children who were among more than 700, 000 people immunised in a state-run trial programme.