Japan Administers the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna Intramuscular Injection

Japan's Defense Ministry confirmed it administered COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna Intramuscular Injection (TAK-919) among Self-Defense Forces (SDF) members, reported Kyodo News on May 23, 2021.

This is the first confirmed use of Moderna's mRNA vaccine in Japan.

SDF healthcare providers and private nurses are being scheduled to offer vaccinations in Tokyo and Osaka on May 24th.

This is important since the Japan Times reported today a government spokesman discussed the possibility of extending the current State of Emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, and other prefectures beyond the May 31st expiration date.

Previously, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company announced that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) granted special approval for the emergency use of Moderna’s vaccine known in Japan as COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna Intramuscular Injection.

“This is an important step in Takeda’s support of Japan’s pandemic response,” commented Rajeev Venkayya, president of the Global Vaccine Business Unit at Takeda, in a press statement.

“Moderna’s vaccine demonstrated an excellent safety profile, and we are excited to make it available to the Japanese population.”

The approval results from a three-way agreement announced in October 2020 with Moderna and Japan’s MHLW to distribute 50 million doses of the TAK-919 vaccine in Japan in the first half of 2021.

Takeda Pharmaceutical is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Osaka, Japan.