BioNTech Shares Drop 7% Amid Reports of Covid Vaccine Fatality Links

BioNTech's stock fell sharply after reports surfaced that the U.S. administration may attribute child fatalities to Covid-19 vaccines. The Washington Post cited unnamed sources claiming officials were examining 25 deaths potentially linked to vaccinations, though the CDC emphasized such determinations require rigorous medical review.

Market reaction was severe, with BioNTech shares plunging 7% while broader indices held steady. The biotech firm co-developed Comirnaty, one of the most widely administered Covid vaccines, with Pfizer. Unverified reports from VAERS—a system not designed to establish causation—appear to be driving the controversy.

Reputational risks now loom for vaccine developers as unconfirmed adverse event reports gain political traction. The situation underscores how pandemic-era healthcare stocks remain vulnerable to regulatory narratives and public perception shifts.