Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been suspended in Japan after the discovery of contaminants. It was reported that the Gunma prefectural government stated on Sunday, Aug. 29, that some foreign substances were found in the coronavirus vaccine made by the American biotech company Moderna.
The vaccine was tested after a series of reports regarding contaminants in the product have emerged in Japan. According to Kyodo News, a blackish foreign matter was detected during the inspections prior to the vaccination schedules. The pollutant was said to be less than 0.5 millimeters in size.
The vials have different lot numbers from the initial three lots that were already suspended last week. The Moderna vaccine lots with the contaminants were found last Thursday and Saturday in Okinawa. The vials were said to have black and pink substances in them.
Unfortunately, around 4,500 people were inoculated with the possibly contaminated Moderna shots. The affected lots were used in the vaccinations for over three days last week in Gunma. The territory is the seventh to report about the foreign substance in the Moderna vaccine after Okinawa, Aichi, Gifu, Saitama, Tokyo, and Ibaraki.
The country’s Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry said that rubber pieces may have dropped into the vials when the needle syringe was punctured into the rubber to take out content. Other than the foreign matter, there is no issue with the quality of the vaccine.
Now, while some experts say that it is safe to continue with the inoculations using Moderna vaccines as the quality is not affected, an investigation has been launched with regards to the death of two Japanese citizens who received the Moderna jab. They were said to have passed away just days after their vaccination.
CNN News reported that the authorities are investigating if the deaths have links to the contaminated Moderna vaccines. As of this time, there is no conclusion yet, but the experts are continuing their assessment to determine the safety of the shots.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company said in a statement that was released last Saturday, "Currently, no link has been confirmed between these deaths and the Moderna vaccine, but we believe it is important to carry out a formal probe to investigate the matter further."


Dollar Slips as Weak U.S. Manufacturing Data Increases Pressure for Fed Rate Cuts
Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum
Rio Tinto Raises 2025 Copper Output Outlook as Oyu Tolgoi Expansion Accelerates
U.S. Soybean Shipments to China Gain Momentum as Trade Tensions Ease
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens
U.S. Stocks Slip as Investors Await Fed Rate Decision and Monitor Market Shifts
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp
RBA Signals Possible Rate Implications as Inflation Proves More Persistent
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut
UPS MD-11 Crash Prompts Families to Prepare Wrongful Death Lawsuit
USPS Expands Electric Vehicle Fleet as Nationwide Transition Accelerates
Firelight Launches as First XRP Staking Platform on Flare, Introduces DeFi Cover Feature
Oil Prices Slip as Russia-Ukraine Peace Hopes Fade and Oversupply Fears Grow
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity
Bristol Myers Faces $6.7 Billion Lawsuit After Judge Allows Key Shareholder Claims to Proceed
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 



