740,000 Moderna doses scrapped due to expiration in 27 Japanese cities

About 740,000 COVID-19 booster vaccine doses made by Moderna Inc have been discarded or are expected to be discarded in 27 major cities in Japan due to expiration,

It's also because Japanese system in rationing those vaccines, they should try it open a vaccine site where people can just go straight without reservation as long they can prove that they eligible for vaccine like meeting minimum time. However for them it's better just to discard those vaccines rather than changing that ration system.

The survey results also reflect the younger population's apparent reluctance to receive a third shot and more people preferring Pfizer shots

Public site only have pfizer shots for 1st and 2nd shots, only vaccines that being administered by companies that has moderna. So majority people in Japan already get used to Pfizer not moderna.

I’m 59, I’ll take one!

There was never a breakdown in the health system here nor were hospitals overflowing with infections.

People soon realised that continually being vaccinated was not necessary.

It could also be that the hundreds of thousands of people who contracted Covid, since the original estimates of the number of dosages needed, have decided to forgo getting a booster.

I am really surprised that 75 million people got the third shot.

BroncoToday  06:47 am JST

The Health Ministry's decision to limit boosters to over 60 only means they would rather throw out these vaccines than inject them into the arms of Japan's youth.

The vaccines have already been paid for, what is the medical basis not using them?

Rather you should be thinking what is the medical reason for using them. The ”protection” wears off so quickly that it is useless. Look at the ”6th wave” data from around the world. Record number of deaths of which most are ”boosted” or ”double boosted”.

So much for Japanese mottainai. Which isn’t even uniquely Japanese anyway.

What an appalling waste, other countries around the world desperate for what Japan squanders. Wholly unacceptable and a demonstration of rank inefficiency on governments part.

More waste by the great LDP. Those Abe masks and then this, with the latter actually being significant.

What a waste. If they knew they were going to expire, why didn't they donate them to a country that needed it?

Was Moderna, now Olda.

Never a popular choice anyway, but it’s a pity/shame something could not have been worked out.

“Volunteers for an early fourth shot”, for example.

When governments control excessively then there is always massive waste but as it’s our money then it’s acceptable…

I don't think it's due to expiration, more like people refuse to get vaccinated.

A shameful waste, no doubt down to dithering, a national affliction, innit?

The Health Ministry has a reason, it should be publicly released.

The obvious reason is mismanagement, making up some imaginary reason that is being kept secret is not rational.

There was never a breakdown in the health system here nor were hospitals overflowing with infections.

People soon realised that continually being vaccinated was not necessary.

The reason there was no breakdown was precisely because vaccination advanced very quickly and people made an effort to keep measures against transmission.

Rather you should be thinking what is the medical reason for using them. The ”protection” wears off so quickly that it is useless.

I will take the scientific and medical consensus that clearly contradicts you than the personal opinion of nameless people on the internet.

The government should have paid based on performance

It would have saved a lot of money

Vaccines have been instrumental on reducing hospitalizations, complications and deaths according to the best experts in the field, that is the whole purpose of vaccines.

Younger people have better access to multiple news sources and so they know quite a lot about negtive effects of the vaccines. That's why they are reluctant to get shots.

Being jabbed with these substances that don't even prevent infection or transmission of the dreaded Rona is a choice, Moderna, Pfizer, little difference. Some people are even lining up for their fourth, go figure.

The Health Ministry's decision to limit boosters to over 60 only means they would rather throw out these vaccines than inject them into the arms of Japan's youth.

I think you mean the 4th shot.

The booster (third shot) has never been limited

The government should have paid based on performance

It would have saved a lot of money

To dream a dream…

@Bronco

I got fed up with being lied to about a myriad; from the millions of deaths being predicted (false) to the low efficacy of the vaccines (proven) -all overblown!

Sounds about right. This wouldn’t be the first time Japan has let vaccine doses expire.

Such doses amounted to 739,085 shots in total, with the volume of wasted doses per municipality varying from 645 to 120,000. The Moderna-made vaccine expires in nine months compared with Pfizer's 12 months.

How much does it cost? The article should have gone on to investigate it.

According to the EU contract in 2021 with Moderna (reported by FT), a single jab costs around 2,800 yen. Thus the total amount is about 200,6943,000 yen.

While I think it is a necessary expense, the tax payers should be informed.

No problem apart from financial, as vaccines so far, don’t stop infection and transmission.

moneywise, each dose, with manufacture, copyright, shipping, storage and administration, only costs about US$50 per dose. That’s only about $370,000. Nothing really. A F-35 fighter jets costs $150,000,000.

Younger people have better access to multiple news sources and so they know quite a lot about negtive effects of the vaccines. That's why they are reluctant to get shots.

The best information available clearly proves the infection is much worse than the vaccines.

But something seems to have changed their minds.

Yes, reduced risk from the disease thanks to vaccination and other measures, that make people feel complacent, that is human nature. This is not something unique to COVID, lots of people are not vaccinating against Japanese Encephalitis either, even when it is still endemic in Japan and can produce death or a life with heavy disabilities.

The Japanese government was smart to limit the roll out of the 4th shot, it would have been a total embarrassment.

The best science available says a fourth shot is not necessary for most of the population, the government is only following the experts advice.

Being jabbed with these substances that don't even prevent infection or transmission of the dreaded Rona is a choice

The vaccines do prevent infection and transmission according to scientific evidence, a choice that can be proven mistaken do not become correct just because people are free to take it.

When the vaccine manufacturers have their "liability immunity" lifted and subject to being responsible for the side effects of their "vaccine". It is still being given out under emergency use declaration, and as such no other treatments or medication can be recommended at least under USA regulations.

Manufactures are only free on one single type of liability, and that is because the government absorbs that for the benefit of claimants. They are still subjected to all others, including side effects from defective manufacture for example.

mRNA vaccines have been given full approval, and even emergency approval do not come with any limit to the use of any other treatment or medication, that has been used for COVID from the beginning. Those misconception are all product of disinformation from antivaxxer groups.

The people know now.

That vaccines protected them the same as the other measures? yes, that is why Japan did much better than expected with the government making counterproductive movements all around.

Sometimes things slip through the cracks

Surprise, when everybody is vaccinated the much reduced hospitalizations and deaths will also be predominantly from the vaccinated people, that does nothing to negate the fact that unvaccinated are still overrepresented in the fatalities according to their demographics.

This is called negative efficacy.

No, it is called misrepresenting the evidence and pretending vaccinated people with elevated age and comorbidities are not different from unvaccinated young adults. There is a reason why epidemiological analysis is used to evaluate the differences, and this supports the value of the vaccines.

The small private clinic in Shinjuku where I got my first two doses of pfizer switched to Moderna for the booster to maximize effectiveness of the booster. I was glad to get Moderna!

What is a positive reaction to a vaccine in exchange for 4 months of the highest level protection in a pandemic! If course it's worth the temporary discomfort. People are so irrational!

How much did that coat tax payers?

@ Bronco

"Both Pfizer and Moderna make countries sign contracts that limit how much they can donate to other countries.

> This is done because donated vaccines would limit the profit margins of these companies as it would decrease the market for potential buyers.

> I don't trust these companies one bit."

Also, the companies make countries put up federal assets as collateral.

740,000 Moderna doses scrapped

Vaccines are not distributed via the free market system so shortages or wastage is 99.99% guaranteed.

Therefore this isn’t really news.

Wonder why they weren't offered to North Korea. Maybe in return for info on the abductees.

According to the EU contract in 2021 with Moderna (reported by FT), a single jab costs around 2,800 yen. Thus the total amount is about 200,6943,000 yen.

Didn't know they were so cheap. Great news. Saving a few hospitalisations should make that cost bank fairly quickly.

Vaccines are not distributed via the free market system so shortages or wastage is 99.99% guaranteed.

They weren't distributed by the free market in the UK either, but there, and no doubt in many other countries, the distribution was highly effective. I worked go so far as to suggest that a free market approach to trying to vaccinate an entire population world's be the least efficient method possible.

I worked go so far as to suggest that a free market approach to trying to vaccinate an entire population world's be the least efficient method possible.

The lack of faith in the price system is disturbing.

That lack of faith also brought us the Abenomask fiasco.

Would it really be so terrible if people who wanted the vaccine were to pay for it, like they pay for food?

I can’t imagine the distribution would have been slower, to those who wanted it. And certainly less wasteful.

What a colossal waste…

What a colossal waste…

Yes, they wasted all that money buying something people did not want. Did anyone in government profit from this? Or are they that much out of touch?

People should elect those who will spend their money more wisely and find effective solutions.

One reason is someone like me has not decided to be vaccinated

One reason is someone like me has not decided to be vaccinated

Could be a fatal decision on your part. Good luck.

Japanese efficiency at it's best. An appalling waste. WHO should, in my opinion, seize Japan's surplus vaccines and send them somewhere else.

The vaccines produced to fight a no longer relevant variant of covid??? No loss then!

treble4punkJune 5  09:40 pm JST

Could be a fatal decision on your part. Good luck.

So the people that died from the contaminated Moderna vaccines made the right decision??? Wow seriously flawed thinking on your part!

This is not the first time this happened, Japan has TRASHED enough vaccine to vaccinate thousands of people in nations that are in desperate need.

I got my booster last week... first two doses were Pfizer, then I got omicron and I just got the Moderna booster. I was the only person at the vaccination site, it was strange. They had tons of workers, nurses and like 5 doctors but I was the only person that came in or out the whole 25 minutes I was there. It was weird. I also got pretty sick the next day but all well and good now. I would say they've either over ordered or just nobody wants a booster. Shrug.

How much will this cost tax payers? COVID-19 tax increase coming in 2023.