Hanoi (VNA), June 4 -- A team of Thai COVID-19 vaccine researchers on June 3 revealed that it had passed its testing of the mRNA vaccine prototype onto guinea pigs and now it is being tested on crab-eating macaques.

If successful, human trials will start by early this October, according to Dr. Kiat Ruxrungtham, chair of Chulalongkorn University's Chula Vaccine Research Centre.

He added that if things go as planned, Thailand will have its own COVID-19 vaccine next year.

Afterwards, the vaccine will be provided to other ASEAN members including Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia as well as Pakistan that is not a member of the bloc.

As of June 4, Thailand had recorded 3,101 COVID-19 cases with 58 deaths./.

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