MANILA, Philippines - A doctor from Binalonan, Pangasinan who has received all three shots of the controversial vaccine, Dengvaxia died on Sunday, April 22.
Kendrick Gotoc, a consultant in a rural health unit in Quezon City reportedly died of a heart attack but his family is suspecting that Dengvaxia is connected to his death.
According to Gotoc’s family, the doctor only revealed to them recently that had received the complete dose of Dengvaxia two years ago as a requirement . Ryan Gotoc, Kendrick's brother stated, “Noong time na ni-reveal niya yung regarding sa pagkaturok ng dengvaxia, kasi ni-required sila ng DOH na magpa-inject. Kailangan mananagot yung mga taong dapat na managot sa ganitong klaseng sistema na ginawa nila.”
Norma, Kendrick's mother also noticed the changes in her son's appearance. Before he died, the doctor lost weight and suffered headaches, stomach pains and skin rashes.
She said, “Napansin ko sa kaniya sa katawan niya, pumuputing-puti na at tsaka may pantal-pantal na parang kagat ng langgam throughout the body. Saka payat na payat siya.”
Kendrick also had six patients inoculated with Dengvaxia and they too eventually died. He had been working on a medicap report about the vaccine before his death and the family will forward it to the proper agency.
Despite refusing an autopsy, the Gotoc family said they have laboratory results that would support their claim that Dengvaxia is connected to Kendrick's death.
Meanwhile, Ana Ma. Teresa de Guzman, provincial health officer said that it's too early to conclude that Dengvaxia is responsible for Kendrick's death. She suggested the family should forward the laboratory results to National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and the Quezon City health office where Kendrick worked.
PAO vs DOH
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta urged the Department of Health not to discount the possibility that Gotoc's death is related to Dengvaxia.
She claimed that it's hard to miss that Gotoc’s symptoms were similar to the other 46 Dengvaxia victims. Acosta said, “Based po sa clinical records at clinical signs na kinukwento noong kapatid at nanay ay halos pareho po doon sa nangyari doon sa mga bata, doon sa 47 na autopsy ng PAO.”
Health Secretary Francisco Duque slammed Acosta's claims saying, “Hindi ko alam kung anong basis nila, bakit nila sinasabi na Dengvaxia ang nag cause noong death. Bakit, mayroong autopsy na bang ginawa? Meron na bang kompletong pagsusuri na ginawa? Wala pa naman.”
Acosta revealed that PAO and the Gotoc family have yet to schedule the autopsy.
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| Kendrick Gotoc died last Sunday, April 22 | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Kendrick Gotoc |
Kendrick Gotoc, a consultant in a rural health unit in Quezon City reportedly died of a heart attack but his family is suspecting that Dengvaxia is connected to his death.
According to Gotoc’s family, the doctor only revealed to them recently that had received the complete dose of Dengvaxia two years ago as a requirement . Ryan Gotoc, Kendrick's brother stated, “Noong time na ni-reveal niya yung regarding sa pagkaturok ng dengvaxia, kasi ni-required sila ng DOH na magpa-inject. Kailangan mananagot yung mga taong dapat na managot sa ganitong klaseng sistema na ginawa nila.”
Norma, Kendrick's mother also noticed the changes in her son's appearance. Before he died, the doctor lost weight and suffered headaches, stomach pains and skin rashes.
She said, “Napansin ko sa kaniya sa katawan niya, pumuputing-puti na at tsaka may pantal-pantal na parang kagat ng langgam throughout the body. Saka payat na payat siya.”
Kendrick also had six patients inoculated with Dengvaxia and they too eventually died. He had been working on a medicap report about the vaccine before his death and the family will forward it to the proper agency.
Despite refusing an autopsy, the Gotoc family said they have laboratory results that would support their claim that Dengvaxia is connected to Kendrick's death.
Meanwhile, Ana Ma. Teresa de Guzman, provincial health officer said that it's too early to conclude that Dengvaxia is responsible for Kendrick's death. She suggested the family should forward the laboratory results to National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and the Quezon City health office where Kendrick worked.
PAO vs DOH
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta urged the Department of Health not to discount the possibility that Gotoc's death is related to Dengvaxia.
She claimed that it's hard to miss that Gotoc’s symptoms were similar to the other 46 Dengvaxia victims. Acosta said, “Based po sa clinical records at clinical signs na kinukwento noong kapatid at nanay ay halos pareho po doon sa nangyari doon sa mga bata, doon sa 47 na autopsy ng PAO.”
Health Secretary Francisco Duque slammed Acosta's claims saying, “Hindi ko alam kung anong basis nila, bakit nila sinasabi na Dengvaxia ang nag cause noong death. Bakit, mayroong autopsy na bang ginawa? Meron na bang kompletong pagsusuri na ginawa? Wala pa naman.”
Acosta revealed that PAO and the Gotoc family have yet to schedule the autopsy.
— Sally, The Summit Express
