The Food and Drug Administration announced on Wednesday evening that Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine vials are supposed to hold five doses, but pharmacists have discovered a way to get one or two extra doses out of the bottles.
The FDA had told pharmacists the vials contain five doses, but it's been found that because they are overfilled in case of spillage, each vial could hold up to seven doses. Some pharmacists threw away the extra doses because they did not want to be in violation of the FDA's emergency use guidelines, but the agency told Politico that "given the public health emergency, FDA is advising that it is acceptable to use every full dose obtainable."
This will help the U.S. as it deals with a limited supply of the vaccine, possibly expanding the nation's inventory by up to 40 percent, Politico reports. Pfizer spokeswoman Sharon Castillo explained that "the amount of vaccine remaining in the multi-dose vial after removal of five doses can vary, depending on the type of needles and syringes used." Pfizer and the FDA have both said extra vaccine from vials should not be mixed together, due to the risk of contamination.
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