On the other hand, there are more than 18 million vaccinated doses, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday at the request of the APA. Furthermore, there is no evidence of a “systematic rejection”. In Germany, however, the local Ministry of Health assumed that vaccines from open multi-dose containers would be destroyed “in some cases”.
“Some Descartes”
“Even in Austria, due to the currently lower number of vaccinations that are carried out in a decentralized manner, there may be occasional rejection,” explained the Ministry of Health. However, vaccinating agencies are encouraged to use multidose ampoules in the best possible way, the ministry emphasized. However, it has “priority to vaccinate those concerned as soon as possible”, even though there are no safe customers for all doses of vaccine in the vial. Vaccines should not be refused based on logistical considerations.
Expiration of large amounts of vaccine “could essentially be avoided through donations to other countries and a consistent application of the ‘first in first out’ principle,” said the office of Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens). Most of the expired doses involved AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vector vaccines, with just 18,140 doses coming from either the Biontech/Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines.
“Not destroyed, but kept fit for the product”
Expired doses “are not destroyed, but stored properly for the product, as the European Medicines Agency can expect a retrospective extension of shelf life,” he emphasized. Austria remains ready to donate vaccines to third countries. However, it has been shown that the need in other countries has decreased in recent months, while the supply of donations has increased. That points to current market saturation, he said.