@wendy davis

have differing meanings. Certainly, complex organic compounds can break down and lose efficiency, or become harmful in other ways (especially if exposed to heat or sunlight). For example, a simple bottle of red wine can transition from being a pleasant sip into being a horrific cauldron of smegmic dreck after just a couple of days in the back of a car in a sunny parking lot. The question has to be "Exactly how does the product degrade, and what are the mechanisms by which it does so?".

That is different for every possible product, and it requires that the manufacturer understand and characterize it. This costs (sometimes significant) money, and as a result, nearly none of them do: they'll simply slap on a "expires in 12 months from today" date to cover their asses, and head for the golf course.

A great example of that is the box of Kosher salt we have in the kitchen: the box would have me believe that the salt within will expire this December. Salt. Salt! The salt in that box has remained essentially unchanged for some billions of years, so no: I ain't buying it.

With pharmaceuticals, the line is less clear. Pharmaceutical companies have to understand their product better than, say, ketchup makers, so their expiration dates are usually (emphasis on the "usually") more based in reality. In the current instance of the mRNA vaccines, I can see reasons that some of the components have relatively short storage lives, especially those that need storage at nearly-cryogenic temperatures. And the Technetium-99 that I just had for a scan has a half-life of 6.0067 hours, and they aren't kidding. Here a week later, I cant even detect myself with my Geiger counter anymore, and where's the fun in that?

As a result, I'm more likely to believe the pharmaceutical manufacturer's expiration dates for complex products (speaking as a person who has left a bottle of relatively nice red wine in the back of a car). Still, having said that: I continue to use a vintage bottle of Mercurochrome that was packed in 1963, and it still seems to work fine- at least if "fine" is defined as "still hurts like a motherfucker when applied". Takes me right back to my childhood, that... As another example, the epi pens that we keep around for anaphylaxis expire every year. I personally believe that to be, shall we say, hooey: stored properly, that epinephrine is pretty stable and lasts much longer than 12 months. So, we've made the decision to keep them around somewhat longer. But that is an individual decision, one that can only be made by an individual consumer. And please note that these comments should not be construed in any way as constituting medical advice.

The system is ripe for abuse- I have very little doubt that many manufacturers use this as a mechanism to drive sales. And that stinks, but there is little to be done about it, other than to research the specific drug and make an informed, individual choice.

Some more information is available in this article, which also has a decent bibliography as an exercise for the interested student. Anyhoo, be safe out there!

#18.1

for all pharmaceuticals is a scam? or just vaccines? although one can read any opinion online, i'd thought that not only did the vaccines need to be kept cold during shipping, but they really do have a shelf life.

but as i'd indicated in the OP, i may be the least covid-knowledgable member here...on purpose.

i do sincerely hope you discover what your recent health problem is, though. i wonder if there might be alternative health practitioners who might help.