Two people have died in Japan after receiving the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine shots. These doses were among the vials later suspended following the discovery of contaminants.

Both men were in their 30s and died within days of receiving their second Moderna doses. Japan’s health ministry says that each had a shot from one of three manufacturing lots suspended on Thursday.

The cause of the deaths is still 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, received reports of contaminants in some vials.

The contaminant is believed to be metallic particles.

[Picture: Carl Court | Getty Images]