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Several people here have experienced mild discomfort after receiving flu shots related to post-vaccination deaths in South Korea, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday.
Their spokesperson told The New Paper that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) received two reports this year of patients experiencing symptoms of sore throat, nausea, or a rash after being vaccinated with one of the affected vaccines, SkyCellflu. Quadrivalent.
The Health Ministry added that HSA has received some reports since last year of people experiencing injection site reactions and rash after receiving VaxigripTetra, the second affected vaccine. The spokesperson said that all affected patients have recovered.
The Health Ministry told healthcare providers and doctors to temporarily stop using the two vaccines as a precautionary measure after nearly 60 people died in South Korea from flu vaccines.
South Korean authorities have said investigations and autopsies of some of the cases have so far found little or no evidence that the deaths were related to the vaccine injections.
The spokesperson said that healthcare providers and doctors can continue to use the other two vaccines brought to Singapore for the flu season, and said the Ministry of Health is monitoring the situation. He added: “We do not track flu vaccine use by brand.”
Health experts said those who have received the affected vaccines shouldn’t be too alarmed.
Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang from the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health said: “It is important to note that more than nine million South Koreans have been vaccinated since this influenza vaccination campaign began in September. this year. And statistically, there will be deaths and adverse events in such large groups of people for a month, even if no vaccine was given. “
Experts added that it is extremely rare for flu vaccines to cause serious complications or death.
Professor Hsu said that in addition to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, the most devastating complication is a neurological disorder triggered by the immune system that can result in paralysis.
“However, these are extremely rare, occurring on the scale of just over one case per million doses of vaccine. The risk of complications, including death, from influenza is much, much higher,” he said.
Infectious disease expert Leong Hoe Nam added: “The flu vaccine has been in use for more than 50 years, so there is a lot of experience surrounding it. The benefit far outweighs any fears.”
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