This is in reaction to the editorial, “Tragic outbreak,” (2/8/2019).
On Feb. 7, CNN reported about the “global resurgence of measles,” which mentioned the Philippines as one of the many countries affected worldwide.
It cited as the “culprit” the baseless and unfounded fears of the effects of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine which were spread with malicious intent by some people who wanted to “score political points,” as your paper called it.
The unfounded fears that spread like wildfire in a nation that tends to believe more what the current leadership wants its people to accept as Gospel truth — aided by a government official who makes statements as if she were an expert medical scientist, but whose “expertise” lies somewhere else — have caused the whole population to lose trust in vaccination, and in effect have led to the illness of thousands and the loss of many lives.
Most of those affected by measles are children. It is scary to think about generations of Filipinos who are not likely to live long because of the short-sighted belief of those who rely on baseless accusations and unfounded “medical theses” spread by someone who was not trained in the medical sciences.
Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta should immediately admit that she committed a fatal mistake in making baseless accusations and unfounded allegations that led to the Dengvaxia scare, so that hundreds of thousands of Filipino children can be saved from measles and other infectious diseases that vaccinations may help prevent.
RAMON MAYUGA, ramon.mayuga49@gmail.com