Shelf life for Covid-19 vaccines extended to one year, says Health DG

PUTRAJAYA: The shelf life of Covid-19 vaccines used in Malaysia have been extended after manufacturing companies submitted new data on its stability, says Health director-general, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

"When the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) gives conditional approval, there is a rolling submission such as the latest data is now available, we see that the vaccine is more stable.

"Hence, we are extending the expiry date of the vaccine vials from six months to one year depending on the stability data we get from the manufacturer," he said at the Health Minister's engagement session with the media here on Tuesday (Jan 10).

In November last year, Dr Noor Hisham said that the NPRA had approved an extension for the shelf life of SinoVac's CoronaVac and Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccines for six and three months, respectively, compared to the original date printed on the vial.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry's Public Health Physician (Family Health Development Division) Dr Saidatul Norbaya Buang said that an average of 7,000 second booster dose injections are administered daily.

She said booster vaccinations are offered at 1,293 vaccination centres (PPVs) nationwide, namely at 104 Health Ministry hospitals, 754 clinics, and 435 private PPVs.

She added that individuals in the priority group can get the vaccinations without an appointment by walking in at hospitals, health clinics, or private PPVs, while other categories have to book an appointment through the MySejahtera application or call the PPV. – Bernama