Takeda Blames Human Error for Contamination of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

Takeda Pharmaceutical said human error was responsible for metal contaminants found in some vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which prompted a recall in Japan in early September.

Japanese health regulators halted the use of several batches of the vaccine in August totaling 1.63 million doses.  

Investigations by Moderna along with manufacturing partners Takeda and the Spanish producer, Rovi, focused on five lots of vaccine doses produced by Rovi from late June to early July. Three were distributed to Japan. The other two lots were not shipped from the Rovi plant.