Expiration and Beyond Use Date (BUD)
Determining when a vaccine or diluent expires is a critical step in proper storage and handling. Understanding vaccine expiration dates can help save your practice time and money.
All vaccines have expiration dates, and some routinely recommended vaccines have a beyond use date (BUD), which is calculated based on the date the vial is first punctured and the storage information in the package insert.
For COVID-19 vaccines:
- The expiration date may change for some vaccines as more stability data become available.
- The Fact Sheets for Healthcare Providers, manufacturer package inserts, or manufacturer websites will provide more information about expiration dates and BUDs.
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Page last reviewed:
October 27, 2021