Federal health regulators have approved yet another a shelf life extension for Johnson & Johnson's COVID vaccine.
The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that expiration dates on the single-shot vaccine have been extended from four-and-a-half to six months.
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The FDA said the shots remain safe and effective for at least six months when properly stored and refrigerated between temperatures of 36 to 46 degrees.
The move gives health care providers an extra six weeks to administer shots and prevents potentially millions of doses from being wasted.
This is the second time the FDA has extended the expiration dates on the J&J vaccine since June. When the shot was first authorized for use in February, its shelf life was three months.
Vaccine expiration dates are based on information from drugmakers on how long the shots stay at the right strength. The FDA has been reviewing expiration dates on all three authorized vaccines as companies continue their testing. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also have a six-month shelf life.
