Singapore has temporarily halted the use of two influenza vaccines as a precaution after the death of some people who received them in South Korea, becoming one of the first countries to publicly announce a halt to the use of vaccines.
South Korea reported 48 deaths as of Saturday after receiving the flu shot, but said it would continue the state-run vaccination program as they found no direct link between the deaths and the shots.
No deaths related to flu vaccination have been reported in Singapore so far, the Ministry of Health and Health Sciences Authority said in a statement late on Sunday, but the decision to stop using SKYCellflu Quadrivalent and VaxigripTetra was precautionary.
HSA is in contact with South Korean authorities for more information during the investigation to determine whether the deaths are related to influenza vaccines.
SKYCellflu Quadrivalent is manufactured by SK Bioscience in South Korea and distributed locally by AJ Biologics, while VaxigripTetra is manufactured by Sanofi and distributed locally by Sanofi Aventis.
Singaporean health authorities have said that two other flu vaccines that were brought to Singapore for the 2020/21 Northern Hemisphere influenza season may continue to be used.
