TOKYO (Aug 30): Moderna Inc's Covid-19 vaccine contamination woes in Japan widened after two regions put temporary holds on shots, following the discovery of foreign substances in more batches. The latest reports of vaccine contamination came from Gunma prefecture near Tokyo and the southern prefecture of Okinawa, prompting temporary holds on Sunday on shots from two new Moderna lots. The contamination cases come on the heels of a government report on Saturday that two people died after receiving Moderna shots that were among lots later suspended. Some 500,000 people received shots from those supplies, Taro Kono, the minister in charge of the vaccine push, has said. Rovi said, in a statement on Sunday, that an investigation was under way in coordination with Moderna, Takeda and the health authorities.

Source: The Edge Markets August 30, 2021 03:55 UTC