Covishield has shelf life of nine months: DCGI

India has extended the shelf life of Covishield for up to nine months from its manufacturing date, a move which will help governments plan the Covid-19 vaccination drive efficiently. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has extended the shelf life from the earlier prescribed six months, a senior government official said. The decision was taken based on the stability data presented by Serum Institute of India, the Pune-based maker of the vaccine.“The company proved that the vaccine is stable for the period by undertaking the stability studies,” the official said. It is a usual practice adopted by companies, the official said. “The shelf life can be extended further, if the stability data support it. The companies have to prove it by undertaking stability studies.”The move could help African countries that have only until the middle of next month to use up more than a million doses of Covishield based on the six-month shelf life.Covaxin, the other vaccine manufactured indigenously by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, could be the next one approaching the drug regulator for the extension of its shelf life, the official said. “The first step is to give it for six months, it keeps extending depending on the stability data.” The move, according to the official, will help reduce vaccine wastage. Starting April 1, India has extended the vaccination drive for all above 45 years of age. The government is expecting an uptake in the vaccination drive.The Centre has asked states to utilise the private sector capacity in ramping up vaccination. Private facilities in some states such as Haryana, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand account for less than 20% of total Covid vaccinations.

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