Japan Cancels Purchase of 40 Million Astrazeneca Vaccine

Japan has cancelled about 40 million COVID-19 vaccine purchases from AstraZeneca Plc, which it agreed to purchase last year, Ministry of Health officials said in parliament on Monday.

In response to a question from members of parliament, officials said the contract would allow the government to cancel some deliveries if it was unnecessary. Japan initially agreed to buy 120 million shots, most of which were made domestically by Daiichi Sankyo Co and other local partners.

Approximately 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca have been supplied to the local governments in Japan, while 63 million doses have been donated overseas, the official said.

Japan has predominately railed on the mRNA-type vaccines developed by Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc for its Covid inoculations and boosters so far.