Moderna, Novavax fall as CDC advisers discuss risk-based use of COVID shots

Shares of vaccine makers Moderna MRNA.O and Novavax NVAX.O down 1% and 1.3%, respectively, before the bell

An outside panel of experts to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday raised the idea of recommending updated COVID shots only for those at risk of severe disease

Currently, CDC recommends everyone aged six months and older should receive an updated COVID shot

Analysts at brokerages Leerink Partners and Citi said that a narrower recommendation would be risky for already declining COVID vaccine revenues for MRNA, NVAX and Pfizer PFE.N

Shares of PFE trading flat at $22.54 premarket

The CDC director can accept or reject the panel's recommendations, and this "critical step" will be important to monitor for any RFK Jr. impact on vaccine policy, said Leerink Partners analysts

As of last close, PFE was down ~15%, NVAX fell ~21% and MRNA declined ~37% YTD