Are Pfizer and Moderna Shares Declining Due to Covid Vaccine Controversy?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Shares of Pfizer and Moderna have sharply declined due to potential vaccine safety concerns.
- The CDC will discuss claims linking Covid vaccines to children's deaths.
- Experts advocate for the safety of Covid vaccines based on extensive research.
- ACIP will meet to evaluate claims and possibly revise vaccination strategies.
- Monitoring of vaccine safety is ongoing globally.
Mumbai, Sep 13 (NationPress) Shares of major US pharmaceutical companies experienced a decline of over 3 percent following reports that suggest the US health authorities aim to link Covid vaccines to the deaths of 25 children.
Pfizer's stock dropped by more than 3 percent, Moderna's shares fell over 7 percent, and Novavax saw a decline of more than 4 percent overnight.
This selloff occurred after revelations that these claims are to be presented next week to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine advisory panel, which is responsible for setting US immunization policies.
The American health officials intend to reference pediatric deaths reported in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a federal repository of unverified reports concerning vaccine side effects, according to a report by The Washington Post.
The CDC has warned that VAERS alone cannot establish a causal relationship between vaccines and deaths.
Experts have expressed concern over the government's approach, arguing that studies have shown that Covid vaccines are safe for children, while the dangers posed by the virus are being minimized.
Data from the CDC as of June indicated that at least 25 children passed away following Covid-related hospitalizations since July 2023, and none of the vaccine-eligible children were current with their vaccinations.
The Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP) will meet next week to evaluate new claims and potentially revise vaccine recommendations.
Various options are being discussed, including one that may limit routine vaccinations for younger adults without preexisting conditions.
In response, Moderna asserted that its vaccine safety is 'rigorously monitored' by regulatory bodies in over 90 countries, with no new safety concerns identified for children or pregnant women.
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics, which involved over 10 million children aged 5 to 11 vaccinated with mRNA shots from Pfizer and Moderna, suggested that these vaccines significantly reduced the risk of infection and hospitalization in vaccinated children compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.