Pfizer, Moderna shares fall on report that Trump officials will link child deaths to Covid shots

Core Viewpoint - Shares of Pfizer and Moderna declined following a report linking COVID-19 vaccines to the deaths of 25 children, which is set to be presented to a key vaccine advisory panel [1][2][3] Group 1: Stock Performance - Pfizer's stock fell more than 3% and Moderna's shares dropped over 7% after the report [3] - Novavax, another company involved in COVID-19 vaccine development, saw its stock slide more than 4% [3] Group 2: Regulatory Context - The report is part of a presentation to a vaccine panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which plays a crucial role in vaccine access and recommendations [2] - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is moving to change U.S. vaccine policy, including dropping recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women [4] Group 3: Safety Monitoring - Moderna stated that the safety of its vaccine is rigorously monitored by the company, the FDA, and regulators in over 90 countries, with no new safety concerns identified in children or pregnant women [5] - The claim linking vaccines to deaths is based on unverified reports submitted to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System [6] Group 4: Scientific Perspective - The CDC emphasizes that only thorough investigations by scientists and public health officials can determine if a vaccine caused or contributed to reported side effects [7] - During a recent Senate hearing, Kennedy supported claims that mRNA vaccines pose a dangerous risk [7]