TOKYO -Japanese public broadcaster NHK recently reported that contaminants found in a batch of Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccines delivered to Japan were supposed to be metallic particles.
Earlier, the domestic distributor in Japan, Takeda Pharmaceutical, received contaminants in some vials of Moderna vaccines. After that, Japan suspended the use of 1.63 million doses of Moderna vaccines shipped to 863 vaccination centres in the country,
The NHK report cited ministry sources reported that the particle reacted to magnets and was therefore suspected of metal. However, the identification of the contaminant has not been confirmed, according to the official at the health ministry.
Moderna Inc has defined it as "particulate matter" that did not pose a safety issue or threaten its efficacy.
However, Spanish pharma company Rovi, which bottles Moderna vaccines for markets other than the United States, said the contamination could be due to a manufacturing issue in a production line and that it was conducting an investigation.
News of the contaminant could create difficulty in Japan's inoculation drive, influencing much youth to get vaccinated.
The ministry has said that the suspension of the Moderna batches was a precaution. It forced several Japanese companies to cancel the vaccination of their workers until the European drugs regulator launch an investigation.
Spanish pharma company Rovi, which bottles Moderna vaccines for markets other than the United States, said the contamination could be due to a manufacturing issue in a production line and was conducting an investigation.
(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim and Rocky Swift; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Jane Wardell and Gerry Doyle)
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