WHO Rejects Serum Institute’s Proposal Seeking Extension of Covishield’s Shelf Life from 6 to 9 Months2Photo© indianexpress.com

WHO Rejects Serum Institute’s Proposal Seeking Extension of Covishield’s Shelf Life from 6 to 9 Months

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The WHO has rejected Serum Institute of India's proposal seeking extension of the shelf life of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, from six to nine months, citing insufficient data, sources said.

The WHO has also sought a meeting with Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to discuss the matter, they said.

In a recent communique to Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), the WHO has also asked the firm to formulate the doses with enough titer and/or implement a higher specification at release so that the minimum specification of ≥ 2.5 x 108 ifu/dose is fulfilled throughout the shelf life. Shelf life is the length of time for which an item remains fit for use.