Italy has suspended the use of two batches of the Fluad flu vaccine made by Novartis after 13 people died shortly after the treatment was administered. The Agenxia Italina del Farmaco, or AIFA, took the step as a precautionary measure after the deaths were reported between Nov. 8 and 25, according to a statement on the agency web site.

Most of the deaths have been among people who are more than 80 years old, and eight deaths occurred within 24 hours after the vaccine was administered. The first results of an analysis being...