Under India's Universal Immunisation Programme, the open vial policy applies to multi-dose vials of vaccines that meet all of the following criteria EXCEPT:
- A The vial has not expired
- B The VVM has not reached or passed the endpoint
- C No more than 30 days have elapsed since first opening ✓
- D The vial has been maintained in cold chain conditions and the vaccine is a non-live vaccine
Correct answer: C. No more than 30 days have elapsed since first opening
Explanation
The open vial policy (OVP) under the UIP applies to multi-dose vials of vaccines that are not live attenuated (e.g., OPV, BCG, measles/MMR are excluded from OVP). The OVP allows re-use of opened non-live vaccine vials for up to 28 days—not 30 days—provided the VVM has not reached its endpoint, the cold chain has been maintained, the vial was not contaminated, and the expiry date has not passed. The 28-day limit (not 30 days) is the specific WHO/UIP criterion; option C states '30 days', making it the incorrect criterion.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.