How red tape over a dengue vaccine avoided a health crisis

The Philippines launches probe after Sanofi reveals WHO-approved dengvaxia aggravates symptoms in some cases

The delay by the health ministry in approving the sale of the first-ever dengue vaccine developed by French pharmaceutical major Sanofi Pasteur might seem like another case of red tape, but the health crisis unfolding in the Philippines shows that India might have narrowly avoided a disaster.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had approved Sanofi’s dengue vaccine dengvaxia in April last year; the Philippines became the first nation to widely distribute it, after fast-tracking the approval process. Several other countries such as Mexico, El Salvador, and Brazil have approved its sales. 

On Monday, however, the Philippines launched an investigation after suspending the