A string of reports on Moderna COVID-19 vaccine batches contaminated with foreign objects has caused confusion and anxiety among the Japanese population. Fine stainless steel particles were confirmed in 39 unused vials at vaccination centers in Tokyo and four other prefectures. There have also been cases where small black substances were found in the vaccine.

       The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare decided to halt the use of some 1.63 million doses worth of Moderna vaccine manufactured around the same time as the contaminated batches. Of those, however, about 500,000 are believed to have already been administered. Furthermore, it was revealed that three people who had received shots from the suspended batches died shortly after getting vaccinated.

       According to an investigation by U.S. pharma Moderna Inc. and other bodies, the stainless steel particles created due to friction between metal pieces were mixed in the vaccine during the manufacturing process in Spain. The black substances are believed to be shaved pieces of the rubber cap on the vials.

       Moderna has explained that those contaminated batches would not cause health issues. The causal relationship between the faulty vaccine and the deaths shortly after has not been confirmed, and the drug maker maintains that they were accidental.

       What the latest problem has unveiled is the difficulty in confirming the safety of foreign-made vaccines.

       Japan's health ministry and coronavirus vaccine's domestic distributor Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. relied solely on Moderna to investigate the cause after the contamination issue surfaced. The health ministry says it doesn't intend to conduct an on-site probe into the company's finding.

       How information was shared among related parties was also problematic. Takeda Pharmaceutical informed the health ministry of the metal contamination nine days after it learned about it. If the company had responded immediately, calls to suspend the batches in question could have come much sooner.

       Takeda has said that it released information regarding the small black substances that could get mixed in the vaccine. However, this was not thoroughly recognized at practical levels.

       Because vaccines are administered to healthy individuals, priority must be placed on securing safety.

       In the event suspected side effects are reported, the central government is supposed to collect relevant information to look into causal relationships and give relief to those affected by health damage. Thorough clarification is required over links between the deaths of the three people and the contaminated vaccine.

       Vaccines are one of the main pillars in the pandemic response, and the government is in a position to promote vaccinations. When and if problems arise, the central government must take responsibility to respond quickly and make efforts to disclose information in a sincere manner to prove that it's worthy of people's trust.

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0