Health Ministry Tasks Hospitals With Extending COVID Vaccine Expiry Dates

[webfact]

 

by Paul Rujopakarn

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Public Health Ministry has directed hospitals under its jurisdiction to change the expiry date of COVID-19 vaccines in their stock in accordance with the manufacturers’ new registration details.

 

According to Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong, deputy permanent secretary for Public Health, the instructions were issued to all provincial public health chiefs on April 7.

 

Under the new amendment, Thongchai said the expiry date for Sinovac doses will be extended from six to twelve months, while expiry dates for AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines will be extended from six to nine months.

 

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The memo explained that when the three vaccine manufacturers attempted to register with the Thai Food and Drug Administration, they registered their vaccines under the FDA’s Conditional Approval for Emergency Use of Medical Products directive on July 24, 2020, which limited the expiration timeframe of medical products to just six months.

 

However, the manufacturers have re-registered their vaccines for non-emergency use, allowing them to extend the expiry dates of three vaccine types.

 

Officials said the amendment also covers CoronaVac vaccines manufactured by Sinovac Life Science and purchased from the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, Vaxzevria produced by AstraZeneca Thailand, and Comirnaty from Pfizer Thailand.

 

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-- © Copyright NNT 2022-04-11

 

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[Thailand]

I think I would prefer the non expired versions.

[mahtin]

Gives Mr. Maryjane another 6 months to cash in on his Sino stockpile.

[internationalism]

with 20% of population waiting still for their 1stg dose, with 30% waiting for the 2nd dose and with 65% waiting for a booster - why those vaxes are close to expiry date and why this date has to be extended?

These percents means tens millions of doses needed fast to be administered.

They should be given immediately

Edited April 11, 2022 by internationalism

[hotchilli]

Makes you wonder why the health authorities need to do this.

If they have the vaccines delivered in a timely manner then surely they would have been administered?

[jacko45k]

18 hours ago, Thailand said:

I think I would prefer the non expired versions.

Quite....but I certainly did not get the opportunity to check any one of the three I have had.

[Caldera]

How about tasking hospitals with speeding up vaccinations instead? There seems to have been a lull.

[Guderian]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

However, the manufacturers have re-registered their vaccines for non-emergency use, allowing them to extend the expiry dates of three vaccine types.

Later on at the Health Ministry Khun Thongchai instructs one of his minions:

 

"Somchai, good news, you can stick a new expiry date label on all those Pfizer and Moderna vaccines we've got in stock, giving them an extra 9 months of shelf life. Here are the new labels, now stick them on every one of those vaccine phials in the refrigerator. And I've told you before, don't keep your Krating Daeng and snacks in that fridge with the vaccines."

[Dart12]

Taking off emergency use would then take away their protection from liability and also mean it's NOT approved to use, correct? 

They have not passed actual approval pharmaceutical protocols and ONLY could be used under the Emergency use declaration, no?  

 

[vivananahuahin]

Sales....

[Cake Monster]

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

How about tasking hospitals with speeding up vaccinations instead? There seems to have been a lull.

The pace at which Vaccinations have been administered over the last Month or so, has shown a marked, and massive slow down.

Me starting to think that the pot is getting empty for Vaccine procurement.

[norbra]

The wsy I read this is vaccine effectiveness has been extended,not vaccine stockpile shelf life

Edited April 12, 2022 by norbra