As of Oct. 2, there were 193 coronavirus vaccines in clinical and pre-clinical evaluation, according to data released by the World Health Organization. At least five of those vaccines contain shark squalene, according to Shark Allies. npr.org/sections/coron…
Squalene, a compound that is harvested from the livers of sharks, is a common moisturizing ingredient in cosmetics. But it's also used in malaria and flu vaccines as an agent that boosts the immune system's response.
Non-animal squalene's identical chemical nature to shark squalene should mean an indistinguishable effectiveness in vaccines, according to Shark Allies.
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The extraction of shark squalene has been a more attractive option for producers as it can cost less and yield greater quantities than non-animal alternatives.
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There are more sustainable squalene alternatives. Squalene's non-animal sources include olive oil, sugarcane, wheat germ, bacteria and yeast.
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Shark Allies executive director Stefanie Brendl: “Our ask is that we start testing the alternatives, because long-term, we cannot rely on a wild animal resource for a global need of anything.”
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