Updated January 8, 2026
Expiry date interpretation:
The “Expiry Date” displayed on packaging and in ImmsBC represents the Manufacturer’s Expiry Date. This date indicates the period during which the product is guaranteed to remain stable, maintaining its strength, quality, and purity, provided it is stored under the specified primary storage conditions (e.g., ultra-frozen temperatures).
When specified as a day/month/year, the product expires at the end of the day of expiry. This means it may be administered up until the last minute of the labelled expiry day within the time zone of use (e.g., a product expiring on April 1, 2022, may be used until 11:59 pm on April 1, 2022).
Use By Date
The “Use By Date” function in ImmsBC can be utilized to highlight revised product expiration dates after a state change (e.g. thawing) or repackaging. The “Use By Date” can be set when confirming a vaccine shipment or anytime subsequently by going into the pharmacy supply container and clicking the down arrow on the far right of each lot number’s row. A “Use By Date” edit box will appear.
For detailed instructions please see Inventory management in ImmsBC.
Handling of expired stock
- Remove expired vaccines from the refrigerator and clearly label/mark not to be used.
- Do a thorough inventory of the numbers of expired doses (including partial vials).
- Dispose of the vaccines using your regular biomedical waste disposal procedures for vaccines.
- Discard vaccine packaging/cartons to prevent re-use and counterfeit efforts.
- Record inventory wasted in the ImmsBC system.