- Storage & Handling
- Vaccine Viability and Expiration
When removing doses from a multidose vial we can sometimes get an extra dose beyond what the manufacturer says is in the vial. Can we continue to remove doses from the vial until it is empty?
No. Only the number of doses indicated in the manufacturer’s package insert should be withdrawn from the vial. For some vaccines, the package insert also may indicate the maximum recommended number of punctures of the vial stopper. After the maximum number of doses has been withdrawn or the number of punctures of the stopper has met the recommended limit, the vial should be discarded, even if there is vaccine remaining in the vial and the expiration date has not been reached. Never use partial doses from two or more vials to obtain a dose of vaccine.