The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published “Administration of Expired Injectable Influenza Vaccines Reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System” ¹.
Every year, injectable inactivated influenza vaccine has a standard expiration date of June 30 for the upcoming influenza season (i.e., July 1–June 30 of the following year). Vaccination with an expired influenza vaccine might not protect against influenza infection because different influenza virus strains can be included in the vaccine each year; in addition, protection against viruses included in the vaccine could wane if vaccine potency decreases over time.
Vaccines should be inspected for expiration before they are administered or transported to other facilities. Facility vaccine coordinators need to be aware of the standard expiration date of June 30 and make plans for the safe disposal or return of any remaining doses after that date. Any person who receives an expired influenza vaccine should be revaccinated with the current season’s influenza vaccine.
1. Administration of Expired Injectable Influenza Vaccines Reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System- United States, July 2018–March 2019″ in the June 14 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/pdfs/mm6823a3-H.pdf
Additional Resources
- CDC’s “Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit”
- CDC’s “You Call the Shots: Storage and Handling” online training module
- IAC’s “Storage and Handling” staff education print materials