The Central Drugs Standard Organisation (CDSO) has approved the shelf life of COVID-19 vaccines Covaxin to 12 months, Covishield to nine months, and ZyCoV-D to six months from the date of manufacture, the Lok Sabha was informed on 30 November.

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Regarding the administration of booster doses, Union Health said the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) are deliberating and considering scientific evidence related to this aspect.

Responding to a question on the shelf life of COVID vaccines approved in the country and their active period among the vaccinated people, the minister, in a written reply, said the vaccines were developed very recently, therefore, scientific evidence regarding the duration of protection is still evolving globally. "The National Regulator, i.e. the CDSO, has approved the shelf life of nine months for Covishield vaccine, for Covaxin vaccine, it is 12 months and for ZyCoV-D vaccine it is six months from the date of manufacture," he said.

On whether the government has taken stock of vaccines lying unused in government and private hospitals and proposes to procure and redistribute the unused vaccines before their dates of expiry, the minister said the central government closely monitors COVID-19 vaccine stocks in states and Union Territories to ensure their optimal utilisation.

COVID-19 vaccine stock which has not been utilised in private hospitals and nearing expiry has been taken up for redistribution by respective state governments, as advised by the Union government, for their timely utilisation, he said.

Listing steps taken by the government to ensure adequate production and supply of COVID vaccines and booster doses along with the total expenses incurred and funds allocated and disbursed in this regard, he said under Mission COVID Suraksha' being implemented by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a PSU of Department of Biotechnology, efforts have been made to strengthen COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing capabilities of Indian industry, to ensure optimal vaccine production.