No buyback policy, cannot extend expiry date of vax vials, SII tells HC

Mumbai: Bombay high court on Thursday sought the Central government’s response on the issue of unused vaccine vials even as the Serum Institute of India (SII) said it does not have a buyback policy and cannot extend the expiry date of Covishield vials.

- Rosy.Sequeira

SII’s oral response came on petitions by private hospitals that have near-expiry surplus vials. Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Madhav Jamdar were informed by SII’s advocate Pooja Tidke that the extension of expiry dates of vials “is not possible”.

“There are technical issues which will substantially reduce its efficacy,” said Tidke, adding SII itself has “251 million doses unused which also have an expiration date”. Each vial contains 10 doses. “I (SII) am faced with a predicament if there is no surge in demand. I will have to bear a loss,” she said.