Half a Million Sharks Face Slaughter as Drugs Companies Race to Produce Coronavirus Vaccine Made from Their Livers - The Sun

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Thank you to the Sun UK for running a story on the use of shark squalene in a potential Covid-19 vaccine, which could lead to the decimation of half a million sharks. To sign on to our petition, getting the attention of those companies confirmed to be using shark-derived squalene, please click here, and don’t forget to share!

“Shark Allies add: ‘Squalene made from shark liver oil is used most commonly because it is cheap to obtain and easy to come by, not because it is more effective than other sources.

‘This could spell potential disaster for sharks and humans since this resource is neither sustainable nor reliable for the mass production of a Covid-19 vaccine. 

‘Shark squalene production requires relying on a finite, wild animal population. 

‘Most shark species are already at critical levels and will not withstand an increase in demand for a global vaccine.’

For many years, squalene-adjuvanted vaccines have been used to treat or prevent diseases such as different strains of influenza and coronaviruses including SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV, as well as rabies.

Activists are worried that, in the race to develop the vaccine, "the demand for shark squalene could skyrocket, leading to a significant increase in the killing and harvesting of sharks for their livers.”