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Amendments to the expiry date on cartons of COVID-19 vaccines

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Topics: COVID-19 vaccineStability on the shelf

An overview on the amendments to the expiry date on cartons of COVID-19 vaccines

Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. Comirnaty 30 Concentrate for adults and adolescents vaccine
  3. Comirnaty 10 Concentrate for children 5-11 years vaccine
  4. Spikevax Original vaccine
  5. Spikevax Bivalent vaccine
  6. Update history

Introduction

From time to time, the MHRA may approve batch specific variations to the Marketing Authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines, meaning that some batches may have shelf lives that are different from labelled manufacturer’s expiry date.

In most cases expiry amendments will have been applied to the vaccine cartons by the Specialist Pharmaceutical Logistics (SPL) providers before receipt by vaccination sites. If sites are thawing frozen vaccine locally it may be necessary to take local action. It is therefore essential that all vaccination sites understand the requirements case-by-case.

Following the issue of an expiry extension by a manufacturer, the National Vaccination Programme in England will decide if and when the extension will be applied to existing stocks. Only the extensions approved for implementation by the National Vaccination Programme will appear on this web page.

Update history

  1. Spikevax Original extension now no longer in effect because all affected batches have now expired.
  1. Published