The Dengvaxia Disaster
2016-2017A modern tragedy where "trusting the science" led to the deaths of hundreds of children. Sanofi's dengue vaccine turned a manageable virus into a killer through a mechanism known as Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE).
Normally, antibodies neutralize a virus. But with ADE, the vaccine creates "sub-optimal" antibodies that act like a Trojan Horse. Instead of blocking the virus, they help it enter the body's immune cells, where it replicates uncontrollably.
The Sanofi Cover-Up
Sanofi's own clinical trials showed signals of this risk, particularly in "seronegative" children (those who had never had dengue). Despite this, they pushed for a mass vaccination campaign in the Philippines to capture the market before competitors could.
After children began dying of severe hemorrhagic fever, the Philippine government suspended the program and revoked Dengvaxia's license. The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) exhumed bodies and found consistent patterns of internal bleeding and organ failure.
This disaster proves that the "consensus" can be dead wrong. The WHO initially recommended the vaccine, only to reverse course after the bodies piled up. It stands as a permanent rebuttal to the idea that vaccines are always safe and effective.