Question NW2860 to the Minister of Health
28 September 2022 - NW2860
Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
What total number of COVID-19 vaccines (a) have (i) been discarded and (ii) had their expiration date extended and/or adjusted further and (b) is the Republic still in the process of purchasing?
Reply:
a) (i) No doses that were stored at the vaccine distributors have expired.
(ii) There have been three shelf-life extensions of the Pfizer Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine. The shelf-life extensions were effective on the following dates, and the stock on hand at the vaccine distributors at the time of the extension is reflected below:
- 1 October 2021 - three-month shelf-life extension. Stock on hand at the time of extension = 9,145,590 doses.
- 14 December 2021 - three-month shelf-life extension. Stock on hand at the time of extension = 9,209,880 doses.
- 12 May 2022 - three-month shelf-life extension. Stock on hand at the time of extension = 10,449,150 doses.
(b) The Republic is not in the process of purchasing more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
END.