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COVID-19 vaccine products

Updated

Updated April 15, 2026

For the most updated clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccines, refer to BC Immunization Manual – Part 4 Biological Products: 

Moderna COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine SPIKEVAX® LP.8.1 

  • Provided in multidose vials (MDV) or prefilled syringe (PFS) formats. 
  • Both MDV and PFS vaccine may be stored refrigerated at +2°C to +8°C for up to 50 days from the date of transfer from frozen storage conditions. 
  • Prefilled syringes (0.5 mL) are only intended for those 12 years of age and older. 
  • Further resources: 

Pfizer COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Comirnaty® LP.8.1  

  • Approved for use in those 12 years of age and older. 
  • Provided in multi-dose vials (MDV) or prefilled syringe (PFS) formats. 
  • Note the different storage and handling guidance for the different formats: 
    • MDV: unopened vials may be stored refrigerated (+2°C to +8°C) for up to 10 weeks from the date of transfer from frozen storage to refrigerated storage conditions. 
    • PFS: syringes may be refrigerated (+2°C to +8°C) up until the expiry date printed on the carton and syringe labels. They are never frozen.  
  • Further resources: 

Pfizer COMIRNATY® (Pfizer-BioNTech) 5-11 Years of Age  

  • Approved for use in those 5-11 years of age and supplied to public health only. Pharmacies will not be receiving this vaccine. 

LDV syringes/ needles: If available, use low dead-volume (LDV) syringes/needles to withdraw each dose from a multi-dose vial. If these are not used, there may be sufficient volume to extract the maximum number of doses.  

Pooling residual volume has been removed from the BCCDC Immunization Guidelines as this was a deviation from best practice in a time of minimal COVID-19 vaccine supply. As supply is no longer an issue, this deviation from best practice is no longer permitted. 

Private COVID-19 vaccines: see Private Vaccine Supply. 

Useful links: 

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