Pfizer Vaccine In Sites Near Tokyo, Osaka Found To Be Contaminated

First Moderna, now Pfizer. Foreign matter has been found yet again in coronavirus vaccines being used in Japan, but this time in five unused vials of Pfizer in two cities near Tokyo and one in Osaka Prefecture, the local governments said.

Photo Insert: Vials of Pfizer Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido

The vials containing the white floating matter belong to the same lot, FF5357, according to the cities of Sagamihara and Kamakura, both in Kanagawa Prefecture, and Sakai in western Japan. as per a Kyodo News report.

The three cities have requested Pfizer to analyze the substances.

The contaminants were discovered at three vaccination sites in Sagamihara between Saturday and Tuesday, one site in Kamakura on Sunday, and one site in Sakai on Tuesday.

The cities said they did not use the doses containing the foreign matter while continuing to administer doses bearing the same lot number confirmed uncontaminated.

Last month, the health ministry halted the use of around 1.63 million doses of Moderna Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine as a precaution after foreign substances were discovered in numerous vials.

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