Japan suspends 1M Moderna doses due to contamination

Japan on Thursday suspended the use of more than 1.6 million Moderna vaccine doses after the health ministry said multiple vaccination sites reported contamination in unused vials.

Officials said that although some of the doses could possibly have already been administered, adverse health effects have not yet been reported, according to The Associated Press.

Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., which is in charge of sales and distribution of the shot in the country, said the decision was a safety precaution.

A nurse calls someone in to receive the vaccine at a vaccination centre in Tokyo, Japan.
A nurse calls someone in to receive the vaccine at a vaccination centre in Tokyo, Japan. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Takeda asked Moderna to conduct an emergency investigation.

Neither the company nor the health ministry detailed the contamination and whether any of those doses might have been distributed internationally.

“We will do utmost in order to avoid any impact on vaccination progress, especially at worksites and large-scale centers,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told reporters.

About 43% of the country’s residents are fully vaccinated. The hiccup comes as Japan contends with a spike in COVID-19 infections and record highs of new daily cases.

With News Wire Services

Leave comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *.