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This email is being sent to enrolled COVID-19 Vaccine Providers and COVID-19 Vaccine LHJ partners.
Dear Colleagues,
After 41 weeks of COVID vaccine distribution, enrolled providers have vaccine inventory that may expire soon (including many lots of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen [J&J] vaccine). We encourage all providers to check your inventory, dispose of expired vaccine, update vaccine inventory records, and submit vaccine wastage reports.
Check Inventory
- Determining when a vaccine or diluent expires is a critical step in proper storage and handling. Expired vaccines and diluents must be removed immediately from storage units to avoid inadvertently administering them.
- Any vial of J&J that has a date prior to September 23, 2021 has now expired. There will be no more extension.
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J&J has an expiration date look up website.
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Moderna also has an expiration date look up website.
- This product line may announce shelf life extensions as early as next week (Sept 27 – Oct 1). Do not dispose of expired Moderna until there is decision made about extension. We recommend checking the website at the beginning of October.
- The COVID-19 Vaccine Lot Number report, available via CDC’s Vaccine Code Set Management Service, can help identify expired inventory. The report is updated daily with COVID-19 vaccine lot numbers and expiration dates provided to CDC by vaccine manufacturers.
Update Vaccine Inventory Records
- Update your inventory in Vaccinefinder/Vaccines.gov.
Dispose of Expired Vaccines
- Medical waste disposal requirements are set by state environmental agencies and may vary from state to state. Your jurisdiction’s immunization program or environmental agency can provide guidance to ensure vaccine disposal procedures comply with state and federal regulations.
Submit Vaccine Wastage Reports
- Report waste to your jurisdiction. Waste is expected in any vaccination program. As time passes and administration of vaccine doses increase, the reported levels of waste will also increase. The reporting of wastage does not reflect negatively on a program.
- Once you have identified expired vaccine, please dispose of these vials as per local ordinances regarding disposal of biologic waste.
- In-depth guidance can be found in the Identification, Disposal, and Reporting of COVID-19 Vaccine Wastage operational summary.
COVID-19 Vaccine Program
Prevention and Community Health Division
Washington State Department of Health
COVID.vaccine@doh.wa.gov
360-236-3873 | www.doh.wa.gov
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