Japan suspends 1.63m doses of Moderna vaccine over contamination

Japan has suspended use of about 1.63 million doses of Moderna vaccine after contamination was found in unused vials.

The move raised concerns of a supply shortage as the country tries to accelerate vaccinations amid a Covid-19 surge.

The Health Ministry said contamination was reported from multiple vaccination sites.

Some doses might have been administered, but no adverse health effects have been reported so far, officials said.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a Japanese drugmaker in charge of sales and distribution of the vaccine in Japan, said it decided to suspend use of doses manufactured in the same production line as a safety precaution.

It asked Moderna to conduct an emergency investigation and told medical institutions and organisers to stop using the vaccine produced in Spain and shared the production numbers that may be affected.

The Health Ministry and Takeda did not give details on the type of contamination or if the doses in question may have been distributed outside Japan.

The Moderna vaccine problem came just as Japan struggles with surging infections, with daily new cases hitting new highs in many parts of the country and severely straining the healthcare system.