COVID-19 vaccines in Canada’s stockpile starting to expire as uptake slows

0
171

Health Canada says almost 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines held in a national inventory have expired since January.

That includes more than 420,000 doses of Moderna’s vaccine that expired on Tuesday.

Read more:

Hospitals grapple with ‘historical’ staff absences, burnout amid 6th COVID wave

The 1.5 million expired doses amount to less than two per cent of the 118 million doses delivered to Canada since December 2020.

There are more than 18 million doses in Canada’s national stockpile at the moment, the vast majority of which will expire in the next four months.

Trending Stories

Bank of Canada hikes key interest rate 50 basis points for 1st time in 22 years

Major storm underway in Manitoba, expected to stick around until Friday

Health Canada says that until late last year, demand for vaccines was largely in line with supply so very few doses expired before they were used.

Expired doses are not tossed immediately while Health Canada awaits word from the manufacturer about whether the expiration date can be extended.

© 2022 The Canadian Press