Italy Suspends Batches of Novartis Flu Vaccine After 3 Deaths

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Italy’s drug regulator suspended two batches of Novartis AG’s Fluad influenza vaccine after three people died within 48 hours of receiving the shot.

A fourth person had a “serious adverse event” after getting the Basel, Switzerland-based company’s vaccine, the Italian Pharmaceutical Agency said in a statement today. The suspension of the two batches is a precaution, the Italian agency, known as AIFA, also said. It’s unclear whether the deaths were a coincidence or were linked to the vaccine, it said.