In June there were reports that Covid-19 mRNA vaccines made people magnetic. The reports were fueled by “Covid-19 vaccine magnet challenge” viral videos.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) dismissed the magnetism concerns. And one of the people making the claims – Ohio physician Sherri Tenpenny – was discredited as a member of the “Disinformation Dozen,” the 12 people responsible for 65% of anti-vaccine misinformation on the Internet.
On Thursday, the Japanese Ministry of Health announced that vials of Moderna mRNA vaccine contained metallic contaminants that “reacts to magnets.”
“It’s a substance that reacts to magnets,” the official told Nikkei, adding “It could be metal.”
Around 1.6 million doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine have been discarded due to contamination in some vials, according to a Japanese ministry official.
Moderna confirmed receiving “several complaints of particulate matter” in vials distributed in Japan, but no “safety or efficacy issues” were found related to the reports.
A Moderna spokesperson told Nikkei:
“The company is investigating the reports and remains committed to working transparently and expeditiously with its partner, Takeda, and regulators to address any potential concerns.”
The official added that a “manufacturing issue” at a plant in Spain was to blame, and the vaccine lot in question as well as two adjacent lots have been taken out of circulation.
