Israeli Health Ministry rules out link between vaccine, deaths

Israeli Health Ministry on Monday ruled out any link between vaccination against flu and suspicious deaths of four patients who died after being inoculated, Israel's newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

"There was no one present at discussions who thought the deaths are linked to the vaccination," a Health Ministry official who attended a meeting to discuss the incidents said.

"The test we do is to prove to the public that we check everything to ensure that the vaccination is safe," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Despite the conclusions, it has been decided to keep vaccinations on halt, the paper said.

The ministry is also awaiting a response on the incidents from French vaccine maker Aventis before making a decision on renewing vaccinations, it added.

On Sunday, the death of four patients who had been vaccinated against flu prompted the Israeli Health Ministry to suspend flu vaccinations nationwide.

Over 140,000 Israelis -- all at high or very high risk of complications from the flu -- have been vaccinated during the past few weeks, according to the report.

Source: Xinhua