Pfizer (PFE), Moderna (MRNA) Stocks Plunge as Report Links Child Deaths to COVID Vaccines

Vaccine giants hit hard as new safety concerns trigger market panic.

Market Reaction

Pfizer and Moderna shares tanked following explosive reports connecting COVID vaccines to pediatric fatalities. Investors dumped pharma stocks faster than a hot potato—because nothing says 'risk management' like waiting for bad news to hit before reacting.

Industry Impact

The vaccine sector faces renewed scrutiny just as pandemic-era euphoria fades. Regulatory bodies scramble to assess the findings while shareholders brace for potential liability waves. Big Pharma's golden goose suddenly looks less invincible.

Investor Sentiment

Wall Street's love affair with vaccine stocks hits a brutal reality check—turns out, actual health outcomes matter more than quarterly revenue projections. Who knew?

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The claim is expected to be made at an upcoming presentation to a key advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This panel plays a key role in vaccine decisions. It looks at the data and advises who should get vaccinated and whether insurance should pay for it.

The report comes as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making efforts to change U.S. vaccine policy. He has already removed recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women to get COVID-19 shots. Also, he has imposed new restrictions on the approval of new vaccines.

Federal Agencies Scrutinize VAERS Data

The LINK was reportedly drawn with the help of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). This system collects unverified reports of side effects from various sources, including patients and doctors. According to the CDC, only a full investigation by health experts can show whether a vaccine actually caused or played a role in a reported side effect.

Importantly, last week, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told CNN that the agency is deeply investigating whether the vaccines caused any child deaths. He mentioned that the FDA has seen self-reported incidents in the VAERS database but did not share specific data linking the deaths to the vaccine.

The FDA plans to release its own report in the coming weeks, which may shed more light on these claims.

Which Vaccine Stock Is the Better Buy?

Turning to Wall Street, analysts think that Moderna stock has the most room to run. Its price target implies over 96% upside potential. On the other hand, analysts expect the least from PFE stock, as its average price target of $23.94 implies an upside of 17.3%.