Impurities found in other batches
Moderna falls as more syringes were abandoned in Japan for fear of contamination
Moderna (Nasdaq: MRNA) shares fell 1.7% as the company's troubles in Japan were exacerbated by the suspension of another million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine after foreign materials were found in additional batches. The discovery of contaminated batches has resulted in the suspension of 2.6 million doses of the company's messenger RNA-based vaccine as the world's third largest economy grapples with the worst wave of the pandemic. The number of daily infections is currently over 25,000, as vaccinations are slow to start. However, the seven-day moving average of new infections fell for the first time since June last week, suggesting the current wave may have peaked. The most recent reports of vaccine contamination came from Gunma Prefecture near Tokyo and southern Okinawa Prefecture. Other vials from these lots can still be used, the ministry said on Monday. The contamination cases followed a government report on Saturday that revealed two people died after being given Moderna vaccinations, which were among the batches later suspended, according to the Reuters report.