Don’t Throw It Out—There’s Extra Doses in the Pfizer Vaccine!

The FDA said Wednesday that vaccine administrators can use the 1 or 2 extra doses found in many of Pfizer’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine vials, expanding the supply across the country.

The vials are supposed to hold 5 doses but using a sixth or seventh dose could expand the supply by up to 40%, according to reporting by Politico. Confusion about the extra doses had caused some pharmacists to discard the leftover vaccine based on rules set by the FDA last week, but a statement late Wednesday night said pharmacists can use every dose available.

“Given the public health emergency, FDA is advising that it is acceptable to use every full dose obtainable,” said an agency spokesperson in an interview with Politico.