Foreign News Agencies Report that Competent Health Authorities in Italy and Switzerland Have Given an Order to Ban the Sale of the Seasonal Influenza Vaccines by Novartis

Reference: http://www.fda.gov.tw/EN/newsContent.aspx?id=9350&chk=854b3af9-375e-4686-92bd-fdd935320b01&param=pn%3d1%26cid%3d118%26cchk%3d5bad4865-9037-437c-a198-9e673d42dd81

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Foreign News Agencies Report that Competent Health Authorities in Italy and Switzerland Have Given an Order to Ban the Sale of the Seasonal Influenza Vaccines by Novartis – Influpozzi sub unitaR, Influpozzi adiuvatoR, AgrippalR and FluadR; Taiwan Did Not Import These Four Influenza Vaccines

Foreign news agencies report that competent health authorities in Italy and Switzerland have given an order to ban the sale of the seasonal influenza vaccines by Novartis – Influpozzi sub unitaR, Influpozzi adiuvatoR, AgrippalR and FluadR (manufactured by Novartis in Italy). As these vaccines might contain unknown small particles, they are temporarily banned for sale as a preventive measure. Upon investigation, it was found that Taiwan did not import the influenza vaccines reported in the news. Citizens are reassured of the safety of taking influenza vaccines.

Upon investigation, the Department of Health’s plan for citizens to take 2012-2013 seasonal influenza vaccines started from October 1, 2012. The vaccines used for this plan are AdimFlu-SR (Adimmune Corporation), VaxigripR (Sanofi Taiwan Co., Ltd.) and FluvirinR (Novartis Taiwan). Among them, the Fluvirin Suspension for injection (permit license number: Wei-Shu-Jun-Yi-Shu-Zi-Di No. 000889) of Novartis Taiwan is manufactured by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostic Limited in the United Kingdom. This product is only provided to Taiwan, the UK and USA, which is different from the four influenza vaccines reported in the news, so is its manufacturer. The four influenza vaccines banned for sale in Italy and Switzerland are not imported into Taiwan; citizens are reassured of the safety of taking influenza vaccines.

To ensure drug safety and medical effects, the DOH has established a drug safety surveillance mechanism to monitor drug safety information at home and abroad in time. In addition to the National Reporting System of Adverse Drug Reactions and the National Defective Drug Reporting Center, drug reassessments are being constantly performed for safety and curative effects. Medical personnel and patients should immediately report any suspicious adverse drug reactions arising from drug use (or consumption) to the National Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting Center of the DOH. The Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting Hotline: 02-2396-0100; website: http://adr.doh.gov.tw. If any defective drugs are found, please immediately report them to the National Defective Drug Reporting Center of the DOH. The Defective Drug Reporting Hotline: 02-2396-0100; website: http://recall.doh.gov.tw.