(Photo: VNA)

This is the third COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnam that has been licensed for clinical trials on humans, after NanoCovax vaccine administered in phase 3b and the Covivac vaccine in phase 2.

Volunteer Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao in Dong Da, Hanoi said, “I learned about the trial injection on the radio and social networks. Vaccine is  the most effective means of prevention today. I want Vietnam to have more vaccine sources and to export vaccines, that’s why I have joined this trial.”

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan is hopeful of the trial of vaccine using mRNA technology. 

"We strongly believe and look forward to early research completion to promote domestic vaccine production. This vaccine is developed on Arcturus' mRNA technology, the same technology as the approved Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Efforts are being made to finish phase 3 of trial by the end of the year and urgently complete the vaccine factory in Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park. This vaccine is currently in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in the US and Singapore and its initial results are well evaluated,” Thuan said. 

ARCT-154 vaccine was purchased with technology transferred to VinBioCare Biotechnology JSC, a unit of Vietnam's leading multisectoral conglomerate Vingroup, from Arcturus Therapeutics Holding Incorporation, USA. 

In Vietnam, research and development of the ARCT-154 vaccine will be carried out in 3 phases on volunteers aged 18 years and older. Phase 1 kicked off on Sunday and Monday with the first injection for 100 healthy volunteers at the Hanoi Medical University. Phase 2 will see trial injection for more than 300 volunteers and Phase 3 to be performed on 20,600 volunteers.