The death of two vaccinated with contaminated batches of Moderna

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Japan is investigating the deaths of two men who were injected with contaminated batches of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine, which had been suspended, the health ministry said.

The men, aged 30 and 38, died earlier this month after receiving their second dose of Moderna from one of three batches the government suspended on Thursday after several vials were found to be contaminated, the government said. ministry in a press release.

According to the ministry, the cause of death is still under investigation and “causal relationships with vaccines are currently unknown.”

Both men had a fever after receiving their shots and neither had any underlying health issues or allergies, the same source said.

The suspension affects 1.63 million doses of Moderna vaccine, which have been shipped to more than 800 vaccination centers across Japan.

Takeda said he had received reports from various vaccination centers that “foreign substances” had been found in unopened vials.

About 44% of Japan’s population is fully vaccinated, as the country battles a sharp rise in infections due to the more contagious delta variant.

More than 15,700 people have died from COVID-19 in the country, and much of Japan is under strict restrictions. (AFP)