No direct link here between the vaccine and the deaths, but Japan has confirmed that it has suspended the use of 1.63million doses of the Moderna vaccine after they were discovered to be contaminated with “metal flakes”:
“Two people died after receiving Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) COVID-19 vaccine shots that were among lots later suspended following the discovery of contaminants, Japan’s health ministry said on Saturday.
The men in their 30s died this month within days of receiving their second Moderna doses, the ministry said in a release. Each had a shot from one of three manufacturing lots suspended on Thursday. The causes of death are being investigated.
Japan halted the use of 1.63 million Moderna doses shipped to 863 vaccination centres nationwide, more than a week after the domestic distributor, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co (4502.T), received reports of contaminants in some vials.
At this time, we do not have any evidence that these deaths are caused by the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine,” Moderna and Takeda said in a statement on Saturday. “It is important to conduct a formal investigation to determine whether there is any connection.”
The government has also said no safety or efficacy issues had been identified and the suspension of the three Moderna batches was a precaution.”
This is, of course, precisely how things are supposed to work.
The bad news, though, is that at least 200,000 Japanese people have received jabs from the “tainted” batches of the vaccine, so, if there is a systemic problem, then it will be a very big problem indeed. The good news, on the other hand, is that the contaminant appears to be microscopic “metal flakes”. Flakes of metal will have had to be incredibly small to make it into the vials, and so small, in fact, that they are unlikely to have posed much of an immediate threat to life by puncturing blood vessels or doing anything of that nature. The other concern would be heavy metal poisoning, but again, the amounts concerned are so small that there is reason for optimism.
Also, the fact that there have only been two deaths out of 180-200,000 administered doses bodes well. It may well turn out that the vaccine is entirely innocent in the two deaths, in which case Japan’s caution will have been unnecessary, even if, of course, correct.
But how on earth does metal make it into a vaccine in the first place? Well, apparently it is more common that you might think. Industry experts list metal particles, alongside “bacteria, viruses, and dangerous chemicals” as possible contaminants. Indeed, IG Life Sciences notes that “due to the materials used and the manufacturing process itself, contamination is almost inevitable.”
One of the paradoxes of the vaccine roll out across the world is that there have been repeated instances of countries calling a halt to the administration of various vaccines while they investigate potential links to deaths or ailments – in Europe, for example, use of AstraZeneca was suspended for weeks in the spring. Here we have an example of a Government suspending the use of Moderna. Yet, despite that, some people continue to believe that Governments are actively covering up vaccine related ailments and deaths. There is no evidence, none at all, that this is true. In fact, the opposite has been the case, as we see in Japan.
Nonetheless, stories like this do not enhance public confidence. While Ireland has a massive vaccine take-up rate – headed for 90% – that makes us very much an outlier in comparison to other western countries. In the United States, for example, they are struggling to hit 60%, and resistance to vaccination is widespread. Stories like this one will not help.