Source:
https://scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3107075/singapore-halts-flu-vaccines-after-48-patients-die-south
Asia/ Southeast Asia

Singapore suspends using two flu vaccines after 48 patients die in South Korea

  • No deaths associated with influenza vaccination have been reported in Singapore but use of SKYCellflu Quadrivalent and VaxigripTetra suspended as a precaution
  • South Korea will continue vaccination programme after finding no direct link to casualties, warning that coronavirus outbreak heightens risk of ‘twindemic’
Public anxiety over the safety of flu vaccines has surged after the casualties in South Korea. Photo: Reuters

Singapore has temporarily halted the use of two influenza vaccines as a precaution after some people who received them in South Korea died, becoming among the first countries to publicly announce a halt of the vaccines’ use.

South Korea reported that 48 have died as of Saturday after getting flu shots but said it would carry on with the state-run vaccination programme as they found no direct link between the deaths and the shots.

No deaths associated with influenza vaccination have been reported in Singapore to date but the decision to halt the use of SKYCellflu Quadrivalent and VaxigripTetra was precautionary, the health ministry and the Health Sciences Authority (HAS) said in a statement late on Sunday.

The HSA is in touch with the South Korean authorities for further information as they investigate to determine if the deaths are related to influenza vaccinations.

SKYCellflu Quadrivalent is manufactured by South Korea’s SK Bioscience and locally distributed by AJ Biologics, while VaxigripTetra is manufactured by Sanofi and locally distributed by Sanofi Aventis.

Two other influenza vaccines that have been brought into Singapore for the Northern Hemisphere 2020-21 influenza season may continue to be used, Singapore health authorities said.

Choi Dae-zip, president of the Korean Medical Association, addresses the deaths of people who were administered flu shots. Photo: Reuters
Choi Dae-zip, president of the Korean Medical Association, addresses the deaths of people who were administered flu shots. Photo: Reuters

Meanwhile, South Korea has urged citizens to get vaccinated against influenza and reduce the chances of an outbreak that coincides with the battle against the coronavirus, as it kicked off free inoculations for the last eligible group.

Public anxiety over the safety of flu vaccines has surged after the casualties. Last month, about 5 million doses had to be disposed of after not being stored at recommended temperatures.

“Vaccination offers far greater benefits compared to side effects, and both the WHO and domestic and overseas experts agree,” Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told a briefing on Sunday, in a reference to the World Health Organization.

Last year, more than 1,500 elderly people died within seven days of receiving flu vaccines, but those deaths were not linked to the vaccinations, the government said.

South Korea ordered 20 per cent more flu vaccines this year to ward off the prospect of what it calls a “twindemic” of concurrent major flu and coronavirus outbreaks in winter.

At least 1,154 instances of adverse reactions have been reported from among more than 9.4 million people inoculated since the effort began in September.