Vietnam approves half dose for third Moderna vaccine shot

Duong Thi Hong, deputy head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, said Friday that the decision was made in accordance with recommendations from vaccine manufacturers and the Advisory Council for the Registration of Circulation of Drugs and Medicinal Ingredients.

"Those who have received two Moderna Covid-19 vaccine shots will receive a third shot at half the normal dose (0.25 ml instead of 0.5 ml). Those who have been vaccinated with other Covid-19 vaccines would receive their third Moderna shot at the normal dose," said Hong, adding that the Ministry of Health would issue further guidelines on the decision.

The Zuellig pharmaceutical company, which imports the Moderna vaccine into Vietnam, had sent a document to the Drug Administration of Vietnam, proposing that people get their third shot at half the normal dose.

Accordingly, a full Covid-19 vaccination course with the Moderna vaccine for those aged above 12 would comprise two doses totaling one ml and a third one of 0.25 ml.

Vietnam has received or procured over 209 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, including over 14 million Moderna doses. Ten million Moderna shots have been administered so far.

The country has administered a total of 157 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to its adult population.