Japan To Purchase 40 Million Coronavirus Vaccine Doses

On August 28, 2020, Kato Katsunobu, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan and Moderna, Inc., a biotechnology company, confirmed discussions to potentially purchase 40 million or more doses of mRNA-1273, Moderna’s vaccine candidate. Under the terms of this arrangement, the vaccine would be distributed in Japan by Takeda Pharmaceutical beginning in the first half of 2021, if the vaccine candidate receives regulatory approval.