Moderna Vaccine Contamination Flares Again in Japan
In a sigh of disappointment for those hoping for a smooth shot, Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture has discovered another suspect vial of Moderna’s Covid‑19 vaccine. A pharmacist cloned the usual “check for weird stuff” routine and found not just one, but several black specks dancing inside the bottle.
What’s the Backstory?
- Last week’s drama: Japan pulled back 1.63 million Moderna doses after sniffing out contamination. The culprit? A factory hiccup, possibly in the production line.
- The players: Moderna and the Spanish bottler Rovi say the issue stems from shirt‑length manufacturing mistakes. Meanwhile, European safety regulators have started a probe.
- Safety check: Moderna assures no safety or efficacy concerns popped up during the fallout.
Kanagawa’s Breakdown
Kanagawa’s officials revealed that Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, the local distributor, grabbed the suspect vial. The same batch had already jetted into the arms of approximately 3,790 people.
More Trouble Ahead?
In a twist that feels like a plot twist in an episode of “Medical Mystery,” another batch got frozen in two different regions due to a separate mess: bits of the vial’s rubber stopper slipping off when needles were introduced incorrectly.
So here’s the scoop: More shots suspect a rough patch in the supply chain, and regulators are tightening the screws. We’re all waiting for the final verdict—hope the next batch is cleaner, and the needles are less jiggly!
