Japan probes deaths after jabs from tainted Moderna batch

Japan is investigating the death of two men who received jabs from batches of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine suspended from use due to contamination, the health ministry said yesterday.

The men aged 30 and 38 died earlier this month after getting their second Moderna doses from one of three manufacturing lots (1.63 million doses) suspended by the government on Thursday after several vials were found to be contaminated, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the cause of death was still being investigated.

Both men contracted fever after receiving their vaccinations and neither had underlying health conditions or allergic history, the ministry said.