Japan Withdraws 1 Million More "Contaminated" Moderna Vaccine Shots

Coronavirus: The suspension of Moderna supplies in Japan, more than 2.6 million does in total, comes as the country battles its worst wave of COVID-19.

Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine contamination problems in Japan have widened with another million doses being suspended, after foreign substances were found in more batches and two people died  following shots from affected lots. The suspension of Moderna supplies, more than 2.6 million does in total, comes as Japan battles its worst wave of COVID-19 yet driven by the contagious Delta variant, with new daily infections exceeding 25,000 this month for the first time amid a slow vaccine rollout. The latest reports of vaccine contamination came from the Gunma prefecture near Tokyo and the southern prefecture of Okinawa, prompting the suspension of two more lots in addition to the 1.63 million doses already pulled last week. A tiny black substance was found in a Moderna vaccine vial in Gunma, an official from the prefecture said, while in Okinawa, black substances were spotted in syringes and a vial, and pink material was found in a different syringe.