Shares of Pfizer and Moderna experienced declines following a report suggesting that Trump administration health officials are preparing to link COVID-19 vaccines to the deaths of 25 children. The report, published by the Washington Post, indicated that this claim would be included in an upcoming presentation to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which plays a significant role in vaccine recommendations and policy.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) clarified that the presentation is not finalized, and emphasized that ongoing analyses of vaccine safety data, including reports from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), will be made public through the ACIP. HHS reiterated that until more information is available, claims regarding the vaccines’ role in these deaths should be viewed as speculative.
In response to the report, Pfizer’s stock fell over 3%, while Moderna's shares dropped more than 7%. Novavax, another vaccine producer, also saw a decline of more than 4%. This development coincides with efforts by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to revise U.S. vaccine policies, which include withdrawing recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations in healthy children and pregnant women.
Moderna asserted that the safety of its vaccines is closely monitored by regulatory bodies globally, and it reported no new safety concerns for children or pregnant women. While some studies have indicated a rare risk of myocarditis in young men, the overall consensus remains that the benefits of the vaccines outweigh potential risks, and there is no evidence linking them to pediatric deaths.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary noted that the agency is investigating potential links between COVID-19 vaccinations and child fatalities, though no definitive data has been released. A detailed report from the FDA is expected in the near future.