NDTV Editor Vishnu Som questioned why expired vaccines were administered to adolescents. NDTV had published a story in November how the expiry dates of vaccines were extended.
New Delhi: The Covid-19 vaccination for adolescents in the age bracket 15-18 started on Monday (January 3). Made-in-India vaccine, Covaxin, developed and manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech is cleared for use for adolescents.
Gulf News columnist Navanita Varadpande posted a tweet saying her son was administered an expired vaccine. When she confronted the medical staff, she was shown one letter declaring shelf-life of the vaccine has been extended.
NDTV Editor Vishnu Som, quoting Varadpande’s tweet, asked Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on basis it was done. He also declared the vaccines “expired”.
“On what basis is this being done @mansukhmandviya? Can the formal notification clearing expired vaccine for use on children please be released?”, Som posted.
On November 3, NDTV had published a story headlined “Covaxin Gets Shelf Life Extension Of Up To 12 Months”.
The first paragraph of the story read “Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin has been granted an extension of shelf life for up to 12 months from the date of manufacture, the company said in a statement. The approval of extension of shelf life by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) was based on the "additional stability data", it said.”
Either Vishnu Som had not read the NDTV story or he deliberately tried to create panic that expired vaccines were being administered to adolescents.
Physician scientist Dr. Raches Ella said, “Usually, the shelf life of a vaccine is 1-2 years. COVID vaccines have only been around for a year; evolving data will extend the shelf life. This process will be constantly repeated until we know the Max period. Remain calm and trust the @CDSCO_INDIA_INF @MoHFW_INDIA.”
The Union Health Ministry released a press note saying the shelf life of both Serum Institute’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was extended in October from 6 to 9 months and 9 to 12 months respectively, based on stability study.
“The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) on 25th October 2021, in response to M/s Bharat Biotech International Limited’s letter no: BBIL/RA/21/567 has approved the extension of shelf life of Covaxin (Whole Virion, Inactivated Coronavirus Vaccine) from 9 months to 12 months. Similarly, the shelf life of Covishield has been extended by the National Regulator from 6 months to 9 months on 22nd February 2021”, the press release read.
It further said that shelf life of vaccines is extended “based on comprehensive analysis and examination of stability study data furnished by the vaccine manufacturers”.
NDTV Editor Vishnu Som has neither deleted his tweet nor apologised for it yet.
On the first day of vaccination for adolescents, more than 40 lakh in the age bracket 15-18 years were administered the Covid-19 vaccine.
Expressing his appreciation for the healthcare professionals, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya posted on Monday (January 3) night “Well done Young India! Over 40 Lakhs between 15-18 age group received their first dose of #COVID19 vaccine on the 1st day of vaccination drive for children, till 8 PM. This is another feather in the cap of India’s vaccination drive. #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine”
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