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Health Ministry takes U-turn on Pfizer vaccine expiry date
ECONOMYNEXT –The Health Ministry has taken a U-turn on the expiry date of $40 million US dollar worth Pfizer vaccines and now says the shelf life on the vaccine is in the process of being extended up to 18 months with the advice of Pfizer manufacturer.
The Ministry last month said a Health Ministry-appointed technical committee was evaluating future actions regarding $40 million worth expired Pfizer vaccines which were expected to have expired on December 31.However, the Ministry now says the expiry date is to be extended.
“Pfizer company time to time used to extend the expiry date of Pfizer vaccines. Initially, the expiry date was nine months from the manufacture date and extended up to six,nine and 12 months consecutively,” the Health Ministry said in response to EconomyNext’s Right to Information (RTI) request.
“Now the Pfizer company is in the process of extending the expiry date up to 18 months. This information has been submitted to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) in Sri Lanka with the available evidence.”
“Until we get the proper directives from the NMRA in this regard, we cannot label the available Pfizer vaccine as an expired lot.”
Earlier, Health Ministry officials have said around six million Pfizer vaccines had expired on December 31 after the expiry date was extended twice from June 30.
Sri Lanka secured 18 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine in January 2022 as the country could not order COVID-19 vaccines on time. Later, the government decided to use the remaining vaccines as booster doses after strong reluctance from the public to receive the third and fourth doses.
Around 6 million doses were not used as of end-2022.The Ministry of Health on two occasions, in consultation with the World Health Organization, extended the shell life of the vaccine till December 31, 2022.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in October told EconomyNext that Sri Lanka was in the process of donating over $40 million worth six million Pfizer vaccines to Myanmar. However, that plan failed and the Ministry sought expert opinions and feedback on the disposal.
Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) MURASAME arrived at the Port of Colombo on a replenishment visit this morning (22 Mar 25).
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
JMSDF MURASAME is a 151m long Destroyer commanded by Commander HAYAKAWA Masahiro. Meanwhile, she is manned by a crew of 200.
During her stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 25 Mar 25.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Matale Dirstrict SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna yesterday tabled a list in Parliament naming 1,300 members, leaders, trade unionists, and activists of the UNP, who were allegedly assassinated by the JVP. The list was submitted during a parliamentary session as part of the government’s ongoing effort to document victims of political violence.
Along with the names of the victims, MP Wijerathna also introduced over 900 family members of the alleged victims, providing further context to the extent of the violence.
Speaking during the session, MP Wijerathna stated, “Child soldiers were recruited by the JVP even before the LTTE. ‘Kantale Bonikki,’ a 13-year-old child was used to murder a 70-year-old female UNP supporter.” She accused the JVP of using children to kill numerous UNP members during the JVP’s second insurgency.
The MP said that names not included in the current list would be submitted during the upcoming “Batalanda Debate” in April.
MP Wijerathna invited the public, via her Facebook page to submit further details on family members affected by political violence to ensure their inclusion in the extended record.
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