The Palestinian Ministry of Health Is Not Distributing Expired Pfizer Vaccines
The Claim
The Palestinian Ministry of Health is providing Palestinians with expired Pfizer vaccines against COVID-19.
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Emerging story
It was widely reported on news websites and social media pages that a West Bank teacher claimed the Ministry of Health gave him and his wife an expired Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s team has investigated the circulated claim and found that it was misleading. Pfizer has extended the anti-coronavirus vaccine's expiration date by 6-9 months if properly stored.
Misbar contacted the Palestinian Ministry of Health's spokesman, Muhammad Awawda, who denied the circulating claim. Mr.Awawda informed Misbar that Pfizer had sent an official letter to all countries informing them that while the doses were due to "expire soon," their validity could be extended from six to nine months if properly stored at temperatures ranging from -69 to 900°C.
Therefore, the vaccines can be used for three months after the expiration date printed on each individual vaccine container.
According to Mr.Awawda, vaccines expiring in June 2021 can be used until September 2021.
The FDA renewed the EUA (PDF, 493 KB) for PfizerBioNTech's COVID19 vaccine on December 16, 2021. FDA stated that the PfizerBioNTech COVID19 vaccine with Tris buffer (gray cap and gray border) has a 6-9 month shelf life at 90-60°C. The updated expiration dates for PfizerBioNTech's COVID19 vaccine formulations using Tris buffers are included in the revised data sheet for vaccine providers.
On December 21, 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Health announced that the expiry date of the Pfizer vaccine for adults had been extended by three months. The HMOs and other vaccinating authorities have been informed of this update, and they have agreed to use these vaccines before their new expiration date.
