Information about the Moderna vaccine

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. mRNA vaccines help the body's cells make a harmless protein. This harmless protein will then trigger the body's immune response to create antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19. mRNA vaccines:
+ Does not alter or interact with the DNA of the vaccinated person in any way.
+ Do not use live virus that causes COVID-19.
+ Cannot cause COVID-19 disease in vaccinated people.

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine was granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 18, 2020 and approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization on April 30, 2021. This vaccine has been licensed for circulation and use by many countries around the world.

In Vietnam, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been conditionally approved by the Ministry of Health as a vaccine for urgent needs in preventing and fighting the COVID-19 epidemic in Decision No. 3122/QD-BYT dated June 28, 2021 and Decision 3291/QD-BYT dated July 2, 2021 on supplementing the content of Article 1 of Decision No. 3122/QD-BYT dated June 28, 2021.

Vaccine name:
- Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
- Moderna mRNA-1273 Vaccine
- COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (nucleiside modified)
- SPIKEVAX Vaccine

Manufacturing facility/manufacturing country:
- Moderna TX-USA
- Catalent Indiana, LLC-USA
- Lonza Biologics, Inc-USA
- Baxter-USA
- Rovi Pharma Industrial Services, SA-Spain
- Moderna Biotech-Spain
- Racipharm Monts-France

Presentation format of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:
Each 0.5 ml dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine contains 100 mcg mRNA (embedded in SM-102 nanoparicle lipids)
At storage temperatures -50°C to -15°C: Vaccine is in frozen concentrated solution.
At storage temperatures of +2°C to +8°C, the vaccine is in the form of a white to off-white solution.

Vaccines in multi-dose vials:
- Multi-dose vials contain at most 11 doses/vial: between 10-11 doses, each dose is 0.5ml.
- Multi-dose vials contain at most 15 doses/vial: between 13-15 doses, each dose is 0.5ml.

Secondary box packaging: 10 vials/box

Effectiveness of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:
The vaccine has been shown to be 94.1% effective (ranging from 89.3% to 96.8% with 95% confidence). Efficacy was maintained across all age groups (over 18 years) and was not influenced by gender or ethnicity.

Vaccine storage and transportation

• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine storage conditions Store at negative temperatures -50°C to -15°C in an underground refrigerator
• The vaccine can be stored at temperatures from -50°C to -15°C until the expiration date indicated on the label of the vaccine vial (7 months from the date of manufacture).
• Do not store Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at temperatures below -50oC. Using dry ice for storage can lower the temperature below -50oC.
• During vaccine storage, it is necessary to keep the vaccine vial upright in the box and limit exposure to light. Thawed vaccine will not return to freezing temperatures so do not remove the vaccine vial from the refrigerator until ready to thaw and use the vaccine or transport the vaccine.

Store at +2°C to +8°C

• Vaccines can be stored at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C for up to 30 days. Record the time to start storing the vaccine at a temperature between 2°C and 8°C. Do not refreeze thawed vaccine.
• Other storage temperatures:
• Unopened vaccine vials can be stored at temperatures between +8°C and +25°C for a total of 24 hours.
• Opened vaccine vials can be stored at temperatures between +2°C and +25°C for up to 12 hours.

Conditions for transporting Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

• If Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is not transported at subzero temperatures. It is recommended to transport vaccine vials at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C for up to 12 hours. Transport vehicles and packaging need to ensure that temperatures are maintained between 2°C and 8°C during travel and minimize vibration.
• After thawing and transport at +2°C to +8°C, the vaccine will continue to be stored at 2°C to 8°C until use. DO NOT refreeze thawed vaccine.

Defrosting vaccines
If the vaccine is stored at negative temperatures from -50°C to -15°C, it is necessary to defrost the vaccine before use. Defrosting time depends on the vial dosage and defrosting temperature:
+ Multi-dose vials containing at most 11 doses/vial: defrosting time is 2 hours 30 minutes at 2°C to 8°C or 1 hour at room temperature 15°C to 25°C.
+ Multi-dose vial containing at most 15 doses/vial: thawing time 3 hours at 2°C to 8°C or 1 hour 30 minutes at room temperature 15°C to 25°C.

Source: Covid-19 vaccination practice manual, National Immunization Program