Pfizer, Moderna shares plunge on report that Trump officials plan to link child deaths to COVID vaccine
Following a report that the Trump administration intends to associate the deaths of 25 children with COVID vaccines, shares in Pfizer and Moderna experienced a decline of 3.9% and 7.4%, respectively, on Friday.
According to the Washington Post, Trump health officials are planning to present this claim to a CDC panel of advisors next week, which could impact vaccine recommendations and access to the shots.
The information about the deaths was reportedly gathered from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which contains unverified reports of vaccine side effects submitted by various sources.
The system is not designed to confirm whether a vaccine actually caused a death.
While the presentation is not final yet, Andrew Nixon from the Health and Human Services Department emphasized that speculations should be avoided until the information is publicly shared.
The upcoming vaccine advisory panel meeting is crucial as it will determine key aspects such as insurance coverage for vaccines, administration by pharmacies, and the willingness of doctors to offer them.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been at the center of vaccine-related controversies, including replacing members of the vaccine panel with his own picks earlier this year.
In May, Kennedy halted recommendations for healthy children to receive the vaccines, stating that only high-risk individuals or those over 65 should get vaccinated.
Despite the CDC later advising parents to consult a doctor before vaccinating their children, controversy and resignations within the health agency have continued, with claims of research ignorance and politicization of vaccine safety.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, on the other hand, recommends annual COVID vaccines for children aged 6 to 23 months and older children, emphasizing the safety and effectiveness of the shots in preventing serious outcomes.
