H1N1 Update: Millions of Vaccine Doses Will Expire on February 15

According to the CDC, millions of doses of the Sanofi Pasteur 2009 H1N1 vaccine will expire on February 15. All lots of the monovalent vaccine in pre-filled syringes that were not included in two previous recalls should be administered by February 15, 2010, regardless of the expiration date on their packages. These vaccines were originally set to expire between March and June of 2011.

The CDC reported that the expiration date has been changed to ensure that the vaccine meets potency standards. There are no safety concerns with the affected lots of the vaccine and people who received vaccines from the lots with shortened shelf lives do not need to take any action.

There are approximately 12 million doses of the vaccine in the affected lots. Sanofi Pasteur also sent letters this week to healthcare providers who received shipments of the affected lots to notify them of the earlier expiration date.

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