The senior public relations officer form the Ministry of Health Emmanuel Ainebyoona has reassured the general public not to worry over the AstraZeneca vaccine shelf life after rounds on social media circulating a bottle said to have expired.
Ainebyoona came out on 9th September 2021 to clarify on the matter saying that the Information circulated making rounds on WhatsApp is intended to “mislead the population about the shelf life of the vaccines”.
“The AstraZeneca vaccines being administered are valid and have a shelf life of Up to 30th September 2021” he said adding that the said vaccine arrived in Uganda in August 2021.
“Please note that all covid vaccines have only 6 months between manufacturing and expiry and we expect all of them to be used before they expire given the quantities and huge demand in districts”. Ainebyoona said.
Only Sinovac vaccines have a longer shelf life of 24 months.
He further explained that one should not take the medicine after the end of a given month.
“For example if the expiry date is July 2020, you should not take the medicine after 31st July”. He said .
Ainebyoona noted that the National Drug Authority always ensures vaccines and drugs imported into the country are safe and effective.
