Pfizer, Moderna Stocks Drop 10% After U.S. Links 25 Child Deaths to COVID-19 Vaccines

On Friday, the stocks of Pfizer and Moderna experienced a decline following the announcement by U.S. health officials that they plan to link the deaths of 25 children to the COVID-19 vaccines. This revelation is set to be included in a report to be submitted to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a key group within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that plays a crucial role in determining vaccine access by reviewing immunization data and making recommendations on who is eligible for vaccination and whether insurance companies should cover the costs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson stated in a release that "FDA and CDC staff regularly analyze VAERS and other safety monitoring data and share these review results publicly through the established ACIP process." The spokesperson added that "any speculation prior to public release should be considered purely speculative."

Moderna, in a statement, asserted that the company, along with the FDA and regulatory bodies from over 90 countries, has conducted "rigorous monitoring" of its vaccine's safety. Moderna further stated that systems in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Europe have not identified "any new or unreported safety issues in children or pregnant individuals." Pfizer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Extensive research has shown that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, including those produced by Pfizer and Moderna, are safe and effective, with severe side effects occurring in very rare cases. Researchers have noted that young males, in particular, have a slightly higher risk of developing myocarditis or pericarditis, but these cases are uncommon. There is no evidence to suggest that the currently used vaccines pose any other significant safety risks, including child fatalities. Global monitoring data continues to indicate that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in pediatric populations outweigh the risks.

This claim appears to be based on information submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is responsible for monitoring the safety of vaccines approved or authorized by the FDA. The system includes unverified reports of adverse effects from patients, doctors, and pharmacists. According to the CDC's website, only scientists and public health officials can determine whether a vaccine caused or contributed to an adverse effect reported to the system after a thorough investigation.

Last week, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated that the agency is conducting a "thorough investigation" into whether COVID-19 vaccines cause child fatalities. He did not share specific data linking child deaths to vaccines but pointed to self-reported events in the safety system database. Makary added that the FDA plans to release a report in the coming weeks. He stated, "We at the FDA do know, because we have been investigating the self-reported database, that there are children who have died from the COVID-19 vaccine."

During a Senate hearing last week, the HHS Secretary expressed support for statements made by newly appointed members of a key government vaccine advisory group, suggesting that mRNA vaccines pose a danger to humans. This development comes as the U.S. HHS Secretary is taking steps to alter the country's vaccine policies, having already abandoned recommendations for healthy children and pregnant individuals to receive COVID-19 vaccines and imposed new restrictions on the approval of additional vaccinations against the virus.