new delhi the union health ministry on monday dismissed media reports alleging that expired vaccines are being administered in the country under its covid19 vaccination programme as false and misleadingthere have been some media reports alleging that expired vaccines are being administered in india under its national covid19 vaccination programme this is false and misleading and based on incomplete information the ministry said in a statementon october 25 2021 in response to bharat biotech international limiteds letter the central drugs standard control organisation cdsco approved the extension of the shelf life of covaxin whole virion inactivated coronavirus vaccine from nine months to 12 months the ministry saidsimilarly the shelf life of covishield was extended by the drug regulator from six months to 9 months on february 22 2021the shelf life of vaccines is extended by the cdsco on the basis of a comprehensive analysis and examination of the stability study data furnished by the vaccine manufacturers the ministry said