Singapore's health ministry and the Health Sciences Authority (HAS) has temporarily halted the use of two influenza (flu) 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' usage, Reuters news agency reported on Monday.

Reportedly, South Korea had stated that 48 people have died as of 24 October 2020, 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.

In a statement on 25 October 2020, Singapore's health ministry and the Health Sciences Authority (HAS) said that 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.

Reportedly, 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.

Singapore health authorities added that two other influenza vaccines that have been brought into Singapore for the Northern Hemisphere 2020/21 influenza season may continue to be used.