Pfizer vax with end-November shelf life OK for use till February 2022 — NVOC chair

FILE PHOTO: A syringe and vial are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken June 24, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines with a shelf-life until the end of November can still be used until February next year, the chairperson of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Friday.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the use of the Pfizer vaccines has been extended based on “stability data” from the vaccine’s manufacturer.

“Meron tayong expiring na Pfizer. November siya dapat mag-eexpire pero nagrequest ang manufacturer based on stability data. In-extend siya ng Pebrero. Based sa mga pag-aaral, pwede pa naman ang component niya kaya pinayagan ng ating FDA (Food and Drug Administration),” Cabotaje said over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(We have Pfizer vaccines that are supposed to expire in November, but the manufacturer requested an extension based on stability data. It was extended until February. Based on studies, its components are still safe so the FDA allowed the extension.)

“So ‘yung expiring ng November 30, i-e-extend hanggang February lang pero uubusin natin ‘yan bago ang expiry date ng February,” she added.

(So those supposed to expire on November 30 were extended until February, but we will use them before the expiry date in February.)

Earlier, the Negros Occidental provincial government also reported that 14,920 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines expired on November 30.

Cabotaje said the national government will investigate the vaccine spoilage.

“Hindi naman kami nagkulang dito sa amin, ‘yung pagdistribute lang sa baba at pagbakuna sa baba ang titingnan natin kung ano ang naging problema,” she said.

(We were not remiss in anything but we will look at what the problem was on vaccination and distribution of doses on the ground.)

According to Cabotaje, some manufacturers have also requested to extend the shelf life of their vaccines.

“Ang ginagawa natin ay in-e-extend ang shelf-life based on stability data. Kasi mga bago ito, hindi kagaya ng old vaccines na alam na natin kung gaano ka-stable, kaya ang mga manufacturers ngayon ay nagpapa-extend, nagbibigay ng datos na pwede na ng eight months, na pwede na ng isang taon,” she said.

(We are extending the shelf-life based on stability data. These are new vaccines, so manufacturers are now requesting an extension of shelf life. They provide data that their vaccines can last for eight months of a year.)

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