GPO assures Sinovac vaccines are not nearing expiry

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has addressed concerns following the surfacing of photos showing Sinovac vaccines displaying expiration dates both within six months and three years, saying that the discrepancy is due to Thailand’s own requirement for the vaccines to be administered within six months despite manufacturers indicating they have a shelf-life of up to three years.

 

GPO Director Dr. Witoon Danwiboon explained to news media that Thailand acquired an initial batch of 200,000 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, followed by a second batch of 800,000, a third batch of 1 million doses and a fourth batch of 500,000 doses.

 

Boxes holding the first batch display the original manufacturer’s expiration date three years from production, with those produced in 2021 to expire in 2024. The GPO and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) however decided to impose their own shelf-life on the vaccines, bringing the timeframe down to six months. After informing manufacturers in China of the decision, subsequent batches were placed in boxes displaying the new expiration date, but due to high demand and production limitations, a portion of the ordered vaccine had to have the new dates indicated by a sticker attached upon arrival in Thailand. Addressing concerns due to the various dates and display methods, Dr. Witoon assured Thais that none of the Sinovac vaccines are expired and made known a memo will be circulated to hospitals and relevant offices to ensure a proper understanding.

 

GPO Deputy Director Sirikul Matevelungsun added that COVID-19 vaccine production has been accelerated due to global demand, making accommodating the different expiration dates of various countries difficult. She pointed out that using stickers and QR codes is a necessary course of action at this time but underlined that safety measures are being followed and citizens should not be concerned.

 

 

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-04-24

 

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[YetAnother]

16 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The GPO and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) however decided to impose their own shelf-life on the vaccines, bringing the timeframe down to six months

why-o-why ?!

[geisha]

Strange. Never heard of such a way of dealing with vaccins. The expiration date is just that , hoping they are stored properly. 

[Justgrazing]

Jesus talk about long-winded , trunkated , meandering , up hill , down dale , to the end of the road and back again load of old tosh .. 

Yet another example of the 'arris about face way that they have gone at this .. 

 

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, YetAnother said:

why-o-why ?!

T.i.T

[newnative]

   Who cares?  The tiny, tiny amount of vaccine is not going to reach any of us.  If I was a health care worker, though, I would be hoping that they would manage to distribute this tiny, tiny amount before it expires, slow as they have been.  

[RichardColeman]

My guess is the Chinese put a three year expiry on the vaccine as they know how long it will take Thailand to roll it out.

 

 

[fleur3]

thailand is not top expierienced in development of medicines but do often have an own opinion about everything. Just wait what the other countries decide about the expiry date. Then you will know who is right. Was or is the same with requirement of vaccinated people. The start requirement was that the vaccination could not be older than 3 months. Do not know if that is still the case but there is no reason for this extra retuirement.

[RocketDog]

Everything from China has an infinite shelf life. It doesn't break until you try to use it. 

More khaki noise.