Dengvaxia may not have caused doctor’s death, say
BINALONAN—Did Dengvaxia cause the death of a doctor from this town who received the vaccine against dengue two years ago?
The family of Kendrick Gotoc, 38, believes so but the provincial health office is not convinced, saying the suspicion is “not conclusive”.
Gotoc died on April 22 in a Quezon City hospital after three hours stay in the emergency room.
Dr. De Guzman (left) talks to Councilor Gotoc and Mrs. Gotoc, brother and mother, respectively, of the late Dr. Kendrick Gotoc. (Punchphoto by Cesar Ramirez)
Dr. Ana Ma. Teresa de Guzman, provincial health officer, however, explained to the Gotoc family on April 24 that the claim that the cause of his death was Dengvaxia was not conclusive and only the results of laboratory tests can confirm it.
She said that under the conditions described hours before Kendrick’s death, the cause could have been heart attack or myocardial infarction, or a stroke.
“Dr. Kendrick told them he was vaccinated with Dengvaxia three times but we cannot conclude yet as we have not yet received a copy of his laboratory results and we have to know his medical history,” De Guzman said.
The family said they had laboratory results that would back up their suspicion that his death was due to Dengvaxia and they would file charges against individuals or groups for the death of Kendrick related to the Dengvaxia vaccine.
Kendrick’s brother, Binalonan Municipal Councilor Ryan Gotoc, said the family had observed his failing health weeks before he died and Kendrick himself confirmed he was feeling the side effects of Dengvaxia like headache, loss of appetite, stomach pain, skin rashes, among others.
Kendrick, who worked at the Quezon City health office, was reportedly among the first group injected with Dengvaxia as it was reportedly required of them, Ryan said.
Ryan also recalled Kendrick as having claimed he also had six patients who received Dengvaxia vaccines and later died. That made him depressed but he researched more about it, Ryan said.
Ryan said Kendrick made a medical report about Dengvaxia and the family was willing to give it to proper agencies concerned.
De Guzman advised the Gotoc family to give a copy of laboratory results to the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and the Quezon City health office where Kendrick worked so that a more conclusive study can determine the cause of his death.
They, however, refused to have the body of Kendrick autopsied.
Kendrick’s body was brought home on April 23 in Binalonan’s Barangay Canarvacanan. He was the youngest in a brood of five. He finished medicine from the Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan City and specialized in internal medicine.
“We didn’t expect this would happen to him,” Ryan said. (Eva Visperas)
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