Published 03:06 IST, October 2nd 2020

Global COVID-19 vaccine production could kill half a million sharks: Study

Amid the global health crisis, Conservationists have cautioned that the mass production of COVID-19 vaccine could lead to the killing of half a million sharks.

Science News
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As world is growing more desperate for an effective COVID-19 vaccine, conservationists have cautioned that mass production of drug could lead to killing of half a million sharks. A natural organic compound sourced primarily from shark liver, Squalene, which is most commonly used by companies to produce cosmetics and sunscreens, is also being used to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine candidates while global infections have surpassed 34.1 million.

According to research by US n-profit organisation Shark Allies, substance plays an essential role in development of COVID-19 vaccine as it acts as an “adjuvant”. Thus, squalene is a pharmacological nt that increases efficacy of some medicines by boosting immune response in receivers.

It makes vaccines stronger but threatens a major chunk of shark population. On brighter side, Shark Allies <>said that y have found out many of COVID-19 vaccine candidates in testing phase do t use an adjuvant. And if y do, it is or than squalene. As per World Health Organisation (WHO) data, re are currently at least 34 COVID-19 vaccines in clinical evaluation and 142 in preclinical evaluation. Out of se vaccines, 17 use adjuvants with five of those adjuvants being shark squalene-based.

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How many sharks could be killed?

Two of adjuvants, MF59 and AS03, typically contain 9.75 milligrams and 10.68 milligrams of squalene per dose respectively. US n-profit organisation has put toger number of sharks that would be killed in providing two doses of COVID-19 vaccines to entire population.

While every year 2.7-3 million sharks are killed to produce one tonne of squalene, number could drastically spike if it is used in COVID-19 vaccines. For instance, to mass-produce two doses for approximately 7.5 billion people in world, over 489,700 sharks will be dead. However, re are more sustainable alternative sources of squalene including plants, fungi, and bacteria.