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SINGAPORE: The use of two influenza vaccines may be resumed as they have been assessed to be safe, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint press release on Saturday ( 31 October).
This comes after a “comprehensive review” of information from South Korean health authorities, the Health Ministry and HSA said, adding that Singapore had also examined the quality and safety profiles of the two vaccines.
Last week, the Health Ministry warned that the two vaccines, SKYCellflu Quadrivalent and VaxigripTetra, would be “temporarily suspended” as a precautionary measure after deaths were reported in South Korea after the vaccines.
READ: The Ministry of Health recommends temporarily suspending the use of 2 influenza vaccines after deaths in South Korea
“Based on information released by South Korean health authorities on October 29, the likelihood of a causal link between influenza vaccination and reported deaths was determined to be low,” the Health Ministry and HSA said.
“Investigations from South Korea revealed that the causes of death for 71 of the 72 reported deaths were most likely due to underlying diseases, while the remaining case is pending investigation,” they added.
“South Korean health authorities also found that no vaccine from any particular manufacturer was associated with higher reported death rates than the others.”
NO SAFETY AND QUALITY CONCERNS WITH ALL FLU VACCINES
Singapore authorities said that to date, there are no safety and quality concerns with all available influenza vaccines in Singapore for the Northern Hemisphere 2020-2021 influenza season, namely Fluarix Tetra, Influvac Tetra, SKYCellflu Quadrivalent and VaxigripTetra.
“The HSA has reviewed local adverse event reports as well as global safety data for the SKYCellflu Quadrivalent and VaxigripTetra vaccines,” the joint statement said.
“The adverse events reported for the two vaccines are consistent with the known safety profile of influenza vaccines.”
READ: South Korean Pharmaceutical Celltrion COVID-19 Test Gets US Emergency Use Authorization
HSA has also reviewed the test reports of all batches of the two vaccines supplied in Singapore and found that they meet quality standards.
“Like any drug, vaccines can have side effects,” authorities said, adding that side effects are generally mild and resolve on their own.
Common side effects of flu vaccination can include soreness and redness at the injection site, fever, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, and nausea.
In rare cases, a person may experience a high fever or allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and swelling around the eyes. In such cases, immediate medical attention should be sought.
The Ministry of Health and the HSA added that they will continue to listen to any concerns related to influenza vaccination.
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