Japan detects more Moderna vaccine contamination

After Okinawa region, Gunma prefauture also report contaminant in Moderna Covid vaccine. It comes a day after the Japanese health ministry said it was investigating the death of two men who received shots from tainted Moderna batches -- though the cause of their death is unknown. The Okinawa prefecture, in southern Japan, said Sunday's vaccination programme was partially postponed.The lots affected by the contamination spotted in Okinawa on Saturday are different from the 1.63 doses suspended after the two deaths, according to local media reports. 

"At this time, we do not have any evidence that these deaths are caused by the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and it is important to conduct a formal investigation to determine whether there is any connection," Moderna and its Japanese distributor Takeda said in a joint statement on Saturday. "The vials have been sent to a qualified lab for analysis and initial findings will be available early next week," the statement said.  Around  44 percent of Japan's population has been fully vaccinated, as the country battles a record surge of coronavirus cases driven by the more contagious Delta variant. More than 15,800 people have died from Covid-19 in Japan, and large parts of the country are under strict virus restrictions.