FDA extends shelf life for refrigerated Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Editor's Note

Based on data submitted by Janssen Biotech Inc., a pharmaceutical company wholly owned by Johnson & Johnson, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized on March 7 the extension of the shelf life for refrigerated Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, the American Hospital Association March 14 reported.

The vaccine shelf life got extended from 6 to 9 months when stored at 2–8 degrees Celsius (approximately 36–46 degrees Fahrenheit). According to the concurrence letter the FDA submitted to Janssen, “the shelf life extension applies to all batches that have been released to the US market.”

The FDA also recently released updates regarding authorization of different COVID-19 tests, including molecular and antigen tests. For the full update, see the FDA’s March 11 Roundup here.