THE shelf life of Covid vaccines used in Malaysia has been extended after the manufacturing company submitted new data on their stability, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

“When the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) gives conditional approval, there is a rolling submission. From the latest available data 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 in Putrajaya today.

In November last year, Noor Hisham reportedly said NPRA had approved an extension for the shelf life of SinoVac’s CoronaVac and Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty Covid vaccines for six and three months, respectively, as opposed 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 shots are administered daily.

She said booster vaccinations are offered at 1,293 vaccination centres nationwide, namely at 104 government hospitals, 754 clinics, and 435 private vaccination centres.

She added that individuals in the priority group can get the vaccinations without an appointment by walking in at hospitals, health clinics, or private centres, while other categories have to book an appointment through the MySejahtera app or call the centre. – Bernama, January 10, 2023.