AstraZeneca vaccine shelf life extension for FDA’s OK, says Duque

(FILE) A doctor shows vials of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in his general practice facility. (REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)

MANILA, Philippines — The shelf life extension of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is now up for the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

Duque said AstraZeneca has approved of the shelf life extension of its vaccine by three more months.

“Du’n sa mga malapit na mag-expire ay na-extend naman. Magandang balita, pumayag naman ang AstraZeneca pero ang FDA na lamang ang inaantay natin para maaprubahan ‘yung kanilang extension ng shelf life by three months,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(The shelf life of vaccine doses that are about to expire was extended. Good news, AstraZeneca has allowed it but we are waiting for FDA’s approval on the shelf  life by three months.)

Meanwhile, the health chief has assured that the country’s COVID-19 vaccine supply is stable.

“‘Yung supply natin ng bakuna stable kasi nagdagsaan nga ito nung October, nag-umpisa last year. So, tuloy-tuloy,” he said.

(Our supply of vaccines is stable because many deliveries arrived last October. So, it’s ongoing.)

Earlier, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the Philippines is looking at donating vaccine doses to Myanmar and other countries that are short of the vaccines.

/MUF