JAPAN HALTS USE OF 1.63 MIL. MODERNA VACCINE DOSES OVER CONTAMINATION

Thu 26 August 2021:

Due to contamination, Japan has halted the use of around 1.63 million doses of the Moderna vaccine.

“Foreign materials” were discovered in some doses of a batch of 560,000 vials, according to the health ministry.

Moderna has put three batches on hold “out of an excess of caution,” according to Takeda Pharmaceutical, which sells and distributes the vaccine in Japan.

It stated the likely cause was a problem at a manufacturing contract site in Spain, but didn’t elaborate.

“To date, no safety or efficacy issues have been identified,” Moderna said, adding that it would work with regulators and Takeda to investigate the matter further.

There are no details of what the “foreign objects” are, but Takeda described it as particulate matter, after which it said conducted an emergency examination.

According to the Japan Times newspaper, contamination was also reported from seven other vaccination centers, with 39 vials – or 390 doses – found to be contaminated.

According to Japan Times, the health ministry has disclosed the batch numbers so that those who received their shot before the suspension can verify if they received a potentially contaminated dose.

Japan is dealing with an increase of Covid cases, with eight additional prefectures declaring an emergency on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the contamination would have little effect on the country’s inoculation plan.

Just over 40% of Japanese people are fully vaccinated and around 50% have received one dose.

The country has already approved the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines for use – it only started using Moderna in May.

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