New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday rubbished claims that allegedly expired COVID vaccines were being administered in India, terming such reports as “false and misleading”.
In a statement, the Union Health Ministry wrote: “Some media reports have alleged that expired vaccines are being administered in India under its National COVID-19 Immunization Programme. It is false and misleading and based on incomplete information.”
It was mentioned that on October 25, 2021, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) approved the extension of shelf life of Covaxin in response to “M/s Bharat Biotech International Limited’s letter no: BBIL/RA/21/567” (whole virion, inactivated coronavirus vaccine) from 9 months to 12 months.
Similarly, the shelf life of Covishield was increased from 6 months to 9 months on February 22, 2021 by the national regulator, the ministry said.
It stressed that the shelf life of vaccines is “extended based on comprehensive analysis by the national regulator and examination of stability study data submitted by vaccine manufacturers”.
Earlier in the day, a social media user claimed that her son was being vaccinated, which “was already finished in November”. In response to a question, he wrote that the incident took place at a vaccination center in Gurgaon.
Currently, Covaxin is the only vaccine being given to adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18.
In a statement dated December 20, 2021, Bharat Biotech had informed that Covaxin Open Vial is stable at 2 to 8 °C for 28 days and does not need to be discarded in a day or immediately at the end of the vaccination session.
“This approval of shelf life extension is based on the availability of additional sustainability data, which was submitted to CDSCO. With shelf life extension, hospitals can now utilize the stock to avoid wastage of vaccine,” the press release had said.
The Union Health Ministry’s response comes in the form of COVID vaccination for beneficiaries in the age group of 15 to 18, started in India today. The process of registration for this had started from January 1.
(with agency input)
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