Philippines Vaccine Scandal
How the consequences of a 2016 dengue vaccination drive caused controversy and led to lasting fears among Filipinos.
Content warning: This film contains images of deceased children.
When the Philippines rolled out a vaccine to protect against the mosquito-borne virus, dengue, in 2016, it marked a world first. But within months, parents claimed their children had died due to the vaccine, and the programme was cancelled.
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The damage was done. As fierce opposition to vaccinations spread throughout the country, preventable diseases like polio and diphtheria re-emerged, while a deadly measles epidemic killed hundreds of young people.
Now the Philippines is trying to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations, but its government is facing an uphill battle to convince people that it’s safe.
101 East follows the Filipinos trying to restore faith in vaccines.