In the wake of rising global apprehension over the potential for another pandemic, pharmaceutical giants are experiencing a surge in the stock market.
This surge is fueled by speculation that these companies may be on the brink of developing a vaccine to combat the avian bird flu.
The detection of avian bird flu in humans has sparked worldwide concern, with pharmaceutical companies standing to gain from rumors that they might be prepared to develop a vaccine to prevent another pandemic.
According to The Motley Fool, shares of vaccine stocks Moderna, Novavax, and BioNTech SE experienced a significant rally this week, with increases of 23.4%, 16.4%, and 9.3% respectively, as per data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
These three stocks gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, the recent detection of avian bird flu in a second U.S. citizen and the first-ever detection in a human in Australia have reignited fears of an outbreak. This fear could potentially be a windfall for companies capable of rapidly producing a bird flu vaccine.
In March, a new strain of avian flu, H5N1, was detected in cattle, with a worker in Texas contracting associated conjunctivitis. This week, a second U.S. dairy worker in Michigan tested positive for avian flu, as did an Australian dairy worker, marking the first-ever human case of avian flu in Australia.
These discoveries have heightened fears of an outbreak. Dawn OConnell, the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services, noted that Moderna and Pfizer, which collaborated with BioNTech on the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, were discussing a potential mRNA vaccine program for the new avian flu.
As reported extensively by The Gateway Pundit, major pharmaceuticals such as Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca made billions in profits for their shareholders after developing a series of vaccines to treat COVID-19.
Despite claims that these vaccines reduced the risk of severe illness, they did not prevent infection or transmission of the virus. Furthermore, they were associated with a range of potential side effects, which critics argue were downplayed by the scientific establishment.
Simultaneously, left-leaning politicians worldwide sought to marginalize those who refused to take the vaccine, particularly those in public sector jobs like the military.
Earlier this month, AstraZeneca announced a global withdrawal of its version of the COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, after acknowledging that it could cause rare but serious side effects.
The necessity of a bird flu vaccine hinges on the severity of the virus. However, it is almost certain that if the opportunity arises, these multinational pharmaceuticals will not hesitate to capitalize on it, potentially generating billions in profits.
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