Switzerland's national drug agency announced Wednesday it was lifting a ban on sales of flu vaccines made by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis after documenting that concerns over impurities were unfounded. "Swissmedic lifts the suspension of deliveries and use of Novartis flu vaccines (since) the company has managed to document the quality of the batches that have been and will be delivered in Switzerland," the agency said in a statement.
Last week, Switzerland joined Italy, Austria and Germany in freezing the sale and use of Novartis's Fluad and Begripal flu vaccines after white particles were seen in syringes carrying them. But Swissmedic said Wednesday the company had convinced it that the particles were not signs of impurities but had occurred during the vaccine manufacturing process itself.