US extends expiration dates on J&J COVID vaccine to 6 months

WASHINGTON – Federal wellness regulators connected Wednesday again extended the expiration dates connected Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, providing wellness workers with six much weeks to usage millions of doses of the shot.

The Food and Drug Administration said successful a missive to J&J that the shots stay harmless and effectual for astatine slightest six months erstwhile decently stored and refrigerated. It's the 2nd clip the FDA has extended the support beingness connected the vaccines since June, erstwhile the bureau said they could beryllium utilized for up to 4 1/2 months. When archetypal authorized successful February, the FDA said the vaccines could beryllium stored for 3 months astatine mean refrigeration levels.

Health authorities successful galore states had precocious warned that they could beryllium forced to propulsion retired thousands of doses of the one-shot vaccine without an extension.

The alteration gives wellness providers much clip to usage remaining shots sitting astatine pharmacies, hospitals and clinics. After plateauing earlier this summer, vaccination rates person begun climbing again arsenic the contagious delta variant surges crossed galore parts of the country.

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Vaccine expiration dates are based connected accusation from drugmakers connected however agelong the shots enactment astatine the close strength. J&J antecedently stated that it continues to behaviour stableness investigating with the purpose of further extending the support beingness of the shots.

The FDA has been reviewing expiration dates connected each 3 U.S.-authorized vaccines arsenic companies person continued to trial batches successful the months since the shots archetypal rolled out. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, authorized successful December, person a six-month support life.

J&J’s vaccine was highly anticipated due to the fact that of its one-and-done formulation and easy-to-ship refrigeration.

But rival drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna, which started shipping shots months earlier, person already supplied much than capable doses to vaccinate each eligible Americans. More than 150 cardinal Americans person been afloat vaccinated with the companies’ two-dose shots. By comparison, conscionable 13 cardinal Americans person been vaccinated with the J&J shot.

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Use of J&J’s vaccine has been wounded by respective uncommon imaginable broadside effects. Earlier this month, U.S. wellness regulators added a caller informing to the vaccine astir links to a perchance unsafe neurological absorption called Guillain-Barré syndrome.

That followed a intermission successful the usage of the changeable successful April aft it was linked to a uncommon humor clot disorder. In some cases, authorities wellness advisers said the wide benefits of the changeable inactive greatly outweigh the risks.

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