CHILDREN AT RISK OF DENGUE FROM VACCINATION PROGRAMME As announced in January 2019, the Queensland Government immunised 20 thousand children with a new dengue vaccine, \"Dengvac\". The Government boasted it was an Australia-rst and a tribute to the State's "expertise" in research. It seemed like the Queensland Government could be on the cusp : of a breakthrough to combat a potentially lethal tropical virus, which has been ende in large parts of South-east Asia for deca In fact, over 50 people died of the diseas Australia 2018. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Almost 2 years later, the p. - suspended, after drug f risk of severe den 20,000 vaccinated h Their illness is confirm recipients n .- iously 1nfected by the virus. So far, 100 children out of the I, with 70 of the cases involve children below the age of 9. '.y Dengvac. Concerned parents and school demanding Sanofa refund the $2 million paid for the vaccinations and have also threatened legal action against the Queensland Government, who they argue has withheld information or disregarded expert recommendations. IGNORED WARNINGS Recently disclosed documents showed that key recommendations made by doctors and phannacologists of the Department of Health (DOH) were ignored by the Queensland Government, before the program was rolled out to children. The DOH urged caution over the vaccine because its safety and cost- effectiveness had not yet been established. Dengvax A spokesperson said, "At the end of the day, the FOR VIRUS VITOIS final decision is made by the Queensland Sanofi Pasteur Government, but because of the expertise that the DOH has, it is something you shouldn't ignore." Sanofa confirmed that the vaccine could act like a primary infection for people who had never had Dengvac poses a risk to children under dengue. If these people were then bitten by a mosquito 9 years of age carrying the dengue virus, after the vaccination, this would be like getting dengue for a second time - which often leads to a far more severe illness. For this reason, tropical disease expert, Dr Scott Halstead, urged the Queensland Government to stop the vaccination program until further testing. Dr Halstead claimed, 'The data was not definitive, but it was clear there were uncertainties and risks. Why not wait for the complete studies to be finished before endangering so many children?' In a press release in January 2022, a spokesperson said the Queensland Government was aware of Dr Halstead's assessment but dismissed it as "just a theory... it has not been proven." The Queensland Government also argued that the risk to people who get the vaccine is still extremely small and saying 'Dengvac works well in people over nine years of age. Clinical trials have shown that the vaccine decreases the risk of hospitalisation for severe dengue by 90%.' The spokesperson refused to answer questions about the illness caused by the vaccine in children under 9 years of age. LOSING FAITH IN OTHER VITAL VACCINATION PROGRAMMES Doctors are dismayed at the Queensland Government's lack of due diligence, saying they are "saddened" at how the controversy over Dengvac has eroded the public's trust in the Government's COVID-19 vaccination program. "The unnecessary fear and panic have caused many parents to resist having their children immunised against COVID-19," said the doctors. Anti-vaccination sentiment has also increased considering the Dengvac issue, posing a big risk to the funding of vital vaccination programmes. Pfizer, a vaccine manufacturer, and supplier of majorBy reference to statute and at least (a minimum of) 5 relevant cases, advise whether the Queensland Government: 1) Owed a duty of ca re to the affected children 2) Owed a duty of ca re to Pzer (3 + 7 = 10 marks]