The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a two-month extension of the shelf life for the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine from 9 months (270 days) to 11 months (330 days).
COVID-19 vaccines with an emergency use authorization do not have fixed expiration dates, and the dates can be extended as more stability data is received and analyzed, according to the FDA. Ongoing stability assessment studies have demonstrated the vaccine remains safe and effective for administration at least 9 months when maintained at refrigerator temperatures of 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 8 degrees Celsius), according to the FDA.
This shelf life extension from 9 months to 11 months is applicable to vials that recently expired as long as unopened, unpunctured vials continued to be stored according to the recommended storage conditions.
How to Determine New Expiration Date
The vials and cartons do not contain a printed expiration date. Vaccine providers should confirm the expiration date before administration by visiting the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Expiry Checker webpage.
The FDA advises vaccine providers to check the manufacturer’s website for each lot before administration to obtain the most up-to-date expiration dates for COVID-19 vaccines in storage. Vaccine administrators can enter the vaccine lot number into the Johnson & Johnson Expiry Checker website or by phone using an automated response system at 800.565.4008. This process should take less than one minute to complete. Please visit the Janssen website for providers for step-by-step instructions, including a video, about how to obtain the expiration date using a mobile or desktop device or by phone, including an option to scan the data matrix code on the back of the carton.
- Checking the expiration date with every new lot before the first patient administration
- Continuing to follow an approach to use vaccine doses with the shortest expiration date
- Confirming the expiration date prior to discarding any doses
- Removing expired vaccine from storage units that contain viable vaccine to avoid inadvertently administering those doses
- Discarding unused doses according to state and federal regulations. For more information about disposing of infectious waste, visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency website.
If you have any additional questions, please call the Ohio Department of Health’s Provider Call Center between 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 1.844.9ODHVAX (1.844.963.4829) or email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov.