- After reporting the contamination, Japan will stop using Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.
- Local dealer Takeda requested an investigation.
- Contaminants were found in 39 unopened vials.
The drug maker Takeda and the Ministry of Health and Welfare said on Thursday that Japan would stop using 1.63 million doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine after previous reports that the vaccine had been contaminated in several vials.
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Takeda, which is in charge of selling and distributing Moderna vaccines in Japan, said it “received reports from several vaccination centers that foreign bodies were found in unopened vials.”
It added, “After consultation with the Ministry of Health, we have decided to suspend the use of three batches of vaccines from Thursday.”
The company said it had notified Moderna and “requested an urgent investigation.” Moderna did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Takeda did not elaborate on the nature of the pollution, but said it has not received any reports of health problems caused by the affected doses so far.
Made in Spain
Senior government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said that contaminants were found in one of the three batches, but officials suspended the use of the other two batches as a preventive measure.
He told reporters: “We have not received reports of health problems caused by foreign bodies.”
“But we ask people to consult their doctors in case of any abnormalities.”
Japanese media stated that all three batches were produced at the same time in Spain.
According to a report by the Japanese national broadcaster NHK, contaminants were found in 39 unopened vials at eight vaccination sites in central Japan, including Tokyo.
The Ministry of National Defense stated that between August 6 and 20, a suspended batch of vaccines was vaccinated at its mass vaccination center in the western city of Osaka.
However, the ministry said that staff would visually inspect the vials for contaminants before injecting formula milk, adding that its Tokyo vaccination center was not affected.
Kato said that there was no “specific report” confirming that a dose containing contaminants had been applied.
The Ministry of Health said it would work with Takeda to ensure alternative doses to avoid interrupting the country’s vaccine program, which has been increased after a slow start.
Takeda Pharmaceutical declined to elaborate on the details on the grounds of Moderna’s investigation. But a company spokesperson said the company encourages the public to seek vaccination.
Approximately 43% of Japan’s population has been fully vaccinated because the country is struggling with a surge in virus cases caused by the more contagious delta virus.
During the pandemic, about 15,500 people in the country died of Covid-19, and most parts of Japan were restricted by the virus.
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