Express News Service
NEW DELHI: A major controversy broke out over using vials of Covaxin, which had originally expired, but are being used with “revised” expiry dates, for 15-17-year-olds whose Covid vaccination began on Monday, forcing the Centre to issue a clarification.
For now, Covaxin by Bharat Biotech is the only vaccine being used for the adolescent age group in India and till the time of writing this report, nearly 4.5 lakh vaccinations had been carried out among 15–17-year-olds within hours of inoculation starting for them.
Several people took to social media on Monday to claim that their teenage kids were being administered Covaxin doses from vials which were showing expiry dates of previous weeks but hospitals, in separate sheets, were showing them “revised” expiry dates.
To these accusations, the Union health ministry said this was “false and misleading and based on incomplete information”.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, had on October 25 last year, in response to an application by Bharat Biotech, approved the extension of shelf life of Covaxin from nine months to 12 months, said the government.
Media reports claiming that expired vaccines are being administered in India are
