Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX) Stock

Novavax

Novavax Inc is a biotechnology company that develops vaccines. The company works in the clinical stage of development with a focus on delivering novel products that prevent a broad range of diseases. Novavax works together with its wholly owned Swedish subsidiary to produce vaccine candidates to respond to both known and emerging disease threats. The company believes its vaccine technology has the potential to be applied broadly to a wide variety of human infectious diseases. The Company manages its business as one operating segment, the development and commercialization of vaccines. The company generates maximum revenue from Europe.

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A Nevada dairy worker who initially tested positive for bird flu is currently experiencing mild symptoms, including &#34;pink eye.&#34;

Deadly Bird Flu Strain Detected In Nevada Man: 4 Stocks To Watch (CORRECTED)

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention abruptly ordered its staff to cease all collaboration with the World Health Organization on Monday, marking a dramatic acceleration of President Donald Trump&#39;s executive order to withdraw from the global health body.

Moderna, Pfizer Surge Amid CDC-WHO Split And Bird Flu; RFK Jr. Nomination Looms — A Recipe For The Perfect Storm?

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As the bird flu virus continues to spread through the United States, the Trump administration on Tuesday ordered all communications from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop. 

Trump Administration Halts All Communications From The Centers For Disease Control As Bird Flu Spreads

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<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/article-14422269/New-coronavirus-pandemic-potential-discovered-China.html">https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/article-14422269/New-coronavirus-pandemic-potential-discovered-China.html</a>
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'New Coronavirus With Pandemic Potential Discovered In China' - DailyMail

Trump Order Halts Funding For School Covid Vaccine Mandates

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7404a2.htm" title="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7404a2.htm">https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7404a2.htm</a>

U.S. CDC Report: Evidence Found Of Recent Bird Flu Infections Among 3 Cattle Veterinarians

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that GSK acquired full rights to CureVac&#8217;s bird flu vaccine candidate.
A Nevada dairy worker has screened positive for the D1.1 strain of bird flu associated with a Louisiana man's death in January, according to a CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/08/health/bird-flu-variant-nevada-human-case/index.html">report</a>. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working Monday to confirm<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/02/43549057/deadly-bird-flu-strain-hits-dairy-cows-could-make-covid-seem-like-a-walk-in-the-park-expert-says"> the initial positive test.</a>
The Details: The Nevada dairy worker who has initially tested positive is currently experiencing mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis or "pink eye," which appears to be a common symptom in recent human infections.&nbsp;
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said six dairy herds in Nevada<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/02/43549057/deadly-bird-flu-strain-hits-dairy-cows-could-make-covid-seem-like-a-walk-in-the-park-expert-says"> tested positive</a> for the D1.1 strain of bird flu, marking the first time the variant of the H5N1 virus was detected in cattle.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43535256/palantir-adds-elon-musks-ai-chatbot-grok-to-aip">Palantir Adds Elon Musk&#8217;s AI Chatbot Grok To AIP</a>
The<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html"> current public health</a> risk remains low, according to the CDC. The agency is using flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people.&nbsp;
In January, President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43194764/trump-administration-halts-all-communications-from-the-centers-for-disease-control-as-bird-flu-spreads">ordered </a>a stop to all communications from CDC. Its website currently displays a banner stating that the site is being "modified to comply with President Trump's Executive Orders."
The CDC resumed publishing its weekly <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2025.html?ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM144964&amp;ACSTrackingLabel=This%20Week%20in%20MMWR:%20Vol.%2074,%20February%206,%202025&amp;deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM144964">scientific report</a>, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, last Thursday after being paused for the previous two weeks.&nbsp;
What Else: The H5N1 avian flu continues to spread in wild bird populations as well as in domestic flocks. As many as 15 birds at the Queens and Bronx zoos died last week as a result of the bird flu and a zoo spokesperson<a href="https://gothamist.com/news/bird-flu-suspected-in-deaths-across-multiple-species-at-queens-and-bronx-zoos"> told</a> Gothamist that "vulnerable bird species&#8221; have been moved to protected areas as vets work with city, state and federal regulators.&nbsp;
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered live poultry markets in New York City, Westchester and Long Island to close after several bird flu cases were detected in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx last week.&nbsp;
According to the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training &amp; Education Center, more than 60 million poultry have died or<a href="https://netec.org/2023/01/30/situation-report-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-ah5n1/"> been culled</a> due to bird flu since the outbreak began in 2022. More than 20 million egg-laying chickens were culled in the last quarter of 2024 alone, creating a large impact on the U.S. poultry industry.&nbsp;
Stocks To Watch: With another human case of bird flu likely having been detected, investors may want to monitor the following stocks that are connected with bird flu vaccines.
Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) in January received an additional $590 million award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate the development of its mRNA-based influenza vaccines, including bird flu.
GSK Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>), which acquired full rights to the bird flu vaccine candidate from CureVac BV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVAC#NASDAQ">CVAC</a>) in July 2024, has initiated a Phase I/II study on its development. Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>) also has bird flu vaccine candidates in clinical trials.
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Novavax's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NYSE">NVAX</a>) short percent of float has risen 3.13% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 38.07 million shares sold short, which is 29.64% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 6.27 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Novavax Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739217612_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Novavax has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Novavax's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Novavax's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 15.25%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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(NVAX) - Analyzing Novavax's Short Interest

Senator Cassidy Says Kennedy Committed If Confirmed As HHS Secretary To Unprecedented Cooperation With Him, Meetings Multiple Times A Month; Says Kennedy Committed That If Confirmed, CDC Will Not Remove Information About Vaccines From Website

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Shares of vaccine stocks are trading lower after the Senate Finance Committee voted to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to the Senate floor.

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Republican Senator Bill Cassidy Votes To Advance Nomination Of Robert F. Kennedy As U.S. HHS Secretary; U.S. Senate Finance Committee Votes 14-13 To Advance Kennedy Nomination Favorably

Trump Health Sec Nominee Kennedy Says He Will Support Development Of Vaccines For Bird Flu

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e040JFe7bK0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e040JFe7bK0</a>
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Trump Health Sec Nominee Kennedy Says He Will Not Pause Research On Bird Flu; Says He Will "Devote The Appropriate Resources To Preventing Pandemics" With Respect To Bird Flu

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e040JFe7bK0" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e040JFe7bK0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e040JFe7bK0</a>

Trump Health Sec Nominee Kennedy Appears In Front Of U.S. Senate Finance Committee For Nomination Hearing; Says He Promised Trump That If Confirmed Will Do Everything Possible To Put Health Of Americans Back On Track

Shares of vaccine stocks are trading higher. HHS Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly said he is not anti-vaccine ahead of upcoming confirmation hearings.

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-28/rfk-jr-says-he-s-not-anti-vaccine-sees-critical-role-for-shots?srnd=homepage-asia" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-28/rfk-jr-says-he-s-not-anti-vaccine-sees-critical-role-for-shots?srnd=homepage-asia">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-28/rfk-jr-says-he-s-not-anti-vaccine-sees-critical-role-for-shots?srnd=homepage-asia</a>

"RFK Jr. Says He's Not Anti-Vaccine, Sees Critical Role for Shots" - Bloomberg News

Global health concerns escalated Monday as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly halted collaboration with the World Health Organization, coinciding with the discovery of a rare H5N9 bird flu strain in California and upcoming Senate confirmation hearings for vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
What Happened: The developments sent ripples through healthcare stocks, with vaccine manufacturers showing mixed reactions. Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) edged up 0.58%, while Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) gained 2.95% amid heightened focus on potential bird flu preparedness.
CDC official John Nkengasong&#8216;s Sunday memo, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-who-trump-548cf18b1c409c7d22e17311ccdfe1f6">viewed</a> by The Associated Press, ordered an immediate stop to all WHO collaborations, catching health experts off guard as the U.S. faces multiple health challenges, including 13 measles outbreaks this year.
The first U.S. H5N9 outbreak, detected at a Merced County duck farm alongside the more common H5N1 strain, led to the culling of 119,000 birds, Reuters reported.
The discovery comes as egg prices nationwide hit $4.15 per dozen in December. The United States Department of Agriculture is projecting a further 20% increase this year due to ongoing bird flu impacts, according to a separate Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/egg-prices-bird-flu-poultry-inflation-9ea9934e20e3fe393abb1bb85aa31c30">report</a>.
The timing is particularly significant as Kennedy, known for his vaccine skepticism, faces Senate confirmation hearings this week for Health and Human Services Secretary. His potential appointment has already influenced market sentiment, with some vaccine stocks experiencing volatility.
&#8220;The concurrent WHO separation and emerging health threats create significant uncertainty for healthcare investors,&#8221; said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a University of Southern California public health expert.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43256425/nvidia-says-deepseek-an-illustration-of-how-new-ai-models-can-be-created-while-being-export-control-compliant-amid-600-billion-market-value-plunge">Nvidia Says DeepSeek An &#8216;Illustration&#8217; Of How New AI Models Can Be Created While Being Export-Control Compliant Amid $600 Billion Market Value Plunge</a>
Why It Matters: The healthcare sector&#8217;s response reflects broader market concerns. The iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDNA#NASDAQ">IDNA</a>) has gained 1.2% year-to-date, while <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/42882233/bird-flu-sparks-vaccine-stock-surge-etfs-to-watch-as-h5n1-outbreak-intensifies">major vaccine producers</a> maintain substantial government contracts for flu preparedness.
Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNY#NASDAQ">SNY</a>), GlaxoSmithKline PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>), and other manufacturers secured $72 million in federal funding last October for bird flu vaccine production. Moderna separately received $176 million from BARDA for mRNA-based H5N1 vaccine development.
The CDC decision follows President Donald Trump&#8216;s executive order to withdraw from WHO, though the complete withdrawal requires congressional <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43125408/trump-signs-order-to-withdraw-us-from-who-again-cites-funding-governance-concerns">approval and a one-year notice period</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

As the bird flu virus continues to spread through the United States among poultry, dairy cows and several recent human cases among poultry workers, on Tuesday the Trump administration ordered all communications from the Centers for Disease Control <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/42854890/us-records-first-human-bird-flu-death-high-levels-of-respiratory-illnesses-vaccine-stocks-rally">and Prevention to stop</a>.&nbsp;
The Details: Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dorothy Fink followed by halting all reports from health agencies like the CDC, Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health on Tuesday, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/01/22/trump-health-communications-cdc-hhs-fda/56777086-d8e4-11ef-85a9-331436ec61e9_story.html">a report</a> from the Washington Post.&nbsp;
In a memo obtained by the Associated Press, Fink communicated that an "immediate pause" was ordered on regulations, guidance, announcements, press releases, social media posts and website posts through at least Feb. 1.&nbsp;
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/emerging-market-etfs/25/01/43130930/trump-looking-at-10-tariff-on-china-starting-feb-1">Trump &#8216;Looking At&#8217; 10% Tariff On China Starting Feb. 1&nbsp;</a>
The pause also includes the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientific publication on health information and recommendations.
Some medical experts are concerned that the lack of communication from key health agencies could put public health in jeopardy.&nbsp;
"Not a day goes by when CDC isn't tracking a potential threat to our health," Richard Besser, MD, former acting director of the CDC, told CNN.
"Right now they are letting us know about bird flu in cows, birds, and people … Cutting off communications from CDC puts our health at risk and prevents our doctors, nurses, and public health leaders in our communities from doing their jobs. I urge the administration to quickly lift the pause," Besser continued.
Bird Flu Update: The H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers.
There have been 67 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S. since 2024, including one death. The CDC<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html"> says it is</a> &#8220;watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.&#8221;
The New York Times<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/23/nyregion/long-island-duck-farm-bird-flu.html"> reported</a> on Thursday that an outbreak of H5NI avian flu hit the last remaining duck farm on Long Island and all 100,000 ducks on the farm must be killed.&nbsp;
Before President Donald Trump took office last week, the CDC issued a new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43046294/bird-flu-raising-red-flags-among-health-officials-cdc-urges-faster-testing">health advisory</a> recommending that hospitalized patients who have tested positive for influenza be tested for the bird flu <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/42854890/us-records-first-human-bird-flu-death-high-levels-of-respiratory-illnesses-vaccine-stocks-rally">virus within 24 hours.&nbsp;</a>
Vaccines: Last Friday Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) announced<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43117087/bird-flu-update-first-commercial-case-in-georgia-moderna-receives-590-million-to-develop-vaccine"> it received</a> an additional $590 million award from the HHS to accelerate the development of its mRNA-based influenza vaccines, including bird flu.
Other pharmaceutical companies, including Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>), have bird flu vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials and CureVac NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVAC#NASDAQ">CVAC</a>) started a phase I/II study on its bird flu vaccine candidate developed in collaboration with GSK plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>).&nbsp;
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Photo via Shutterstock.

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current bird flu outbreak has caused 67 human cases of bird flu in the U.S. and one death associated with the virus. The virus was confirmed on Friday at a commercial poultry production facility in Georgia, the nation's top state <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43046294/bird-flu-raising-red-flags-among-health-officials-cdc-urges-faster-testing">for chicken production. </a>
What To Know: The CDC said that the current public health risk is low and the agency is watching the situation carefully and monitoring people with animal exposures. Bird flu is "widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers," the CDC stated in its <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html">most recent</a> update.&nbsp;
On Friday, the Georgia Department of Agriculture announced it <a href="https://agr.georgia.gov/avian-influenza">detected</a> a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at a commercial poultry producer in the state. The case marks the first in Georgia, the nation's top state for chicken production, since the 2022 countrywide outbreak. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/43106379/trump-reverses-bidens-ai-policies-on-day-1-what-it-means-for-tech-giants-nvidia-amd-alphabet">Trump Reverses Biden&#8217;s AI Policies On Day 1: What It Means For Tech Giants Nvidia, AMD, Alphabet&nbsp;</a>
"This is a serious threat to Georgia's #1 industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state's poultry industry," Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a news release.&nbsp;
According to an AP News<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-georgia-chicken-commercial-flock-a5bcad4662d4cf60212f6acb4a55d2ad"> report,</a> the bird flu virus has been detected in 84 commercial and backyard flocks in the past month with 10.7 million birds affected. The virus has also been confirmed in dozens of dairy farms.
What Else: On Friday, Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43105845/why-is-moderna-stock-trading-higher-on-tuesday-2">it received</a> an additional $590 million award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to accelerate the development of its mRNA-based influenza vaccines, including bird flu.
In 2023, Moderna commenced a Phase 1/2 study to generate safety and immunogenicity data for an investigational pandemic influenza vaccine (mRNA-1018) candidate against the H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses. Based on the preliminary data from the Phase 1/2 study, Moderna is preparing to advance mRNA-1018 into Phase 3. 
Other pharmaceutical companies, including Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>), have bird flu vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials. 
CureVac BV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVAC#NASDAQ">CVAC</a>) started a phase I/II study on its bird flu vaccine candidate developed in collaboration with GSK plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>). 
Egg producer Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CALM#NYSE">CALM</a>) reported<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/42862269/cal-maine-foods-stock-climbs-after-strong-q2-results-eps-beat-revenues-beat"> its most recent </a>quarterly revenue of $954.7 million, well above the  $751.49 million consensus estimate, due in part to restricted supply resulting from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks. Cal-Maine Foods stock gained more than 75% over the past six months. 
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Photo: Shutterstock

CALM

Bird Flu Update: First Commercial Case In Georgia, Moderna Receives $590 Million To Develop Vaccine

The CDC issued a health advisory Thursday recommending that hospitalized patients who have tested positive for influenza be tested for the bird flu <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/42854890/us-records-first-human-bird-flu-death-high-levels-of-respiratory-illnesses-vaccine-stocks-rally">virus within 24 hours.&nbsp;</a>
What To Know: There have been 67 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S. since 2024 and the CDC<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html"> says it is</a> "watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures."
The CDC's latest H5N1<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/han/2025/han00520.html"> bird flu advisory</a> comes as new cases continue to be revealed. On Wednesday, the CDC confirmed a bird flu infection in a child in the San Francisco area who was not hospitalized and has since recovered. The CDC said it is still investigating how the child was exposed to the virus. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43041254/unitedhealth-ceo-highlights-hospitals-doctors-pharmas-role-in-soaring-health-care-costs">UnitedHealth CEO Highlights Hospitals, Doctors, Pharma&#8217;s Role In Soaring Health Care Costs</a>&nbsp;
According to a Washington Post<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/01/16/bird-flu-testing-patients-in-hospital/"> report</a>, Nirav Shah, CDC's principal deputy director, said the latest recommendation is meant to accelerate testing rather than increase the number of tests being performed.&nbsp;
Shah said it was prompted by cases in which infected patients were later confirmed to have bird flu, including after being discharged.
Earlier this month, the Louisiana Department of Health reported the first human death in the U.S. related to the H5N1 bird flu virus.
Vaccine Makers: Shares of vaccine-related stocks are on watch as previous bird flu developments have caused shares to spike.&nbsp;
Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) received a $176 million government contract in July to advance development of its bird flu vaccine, leveraging the same mRNA technology used in the company's COVID-19 vaccine.  
Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>) has a bird flu vaccine in clinical trials<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/11/41878334/fda-gives-green-signal-to-novavaxs-covid-19-influenza-combo-vaccine-late-stage-trial"> in addition</a> to a COVID-19-influenza combination vaccine in late-stage clinical trials. 
CureVac N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVAC#NASDAQ">CVAC</a>) stock is also on watch as the company has started a phase I/II study on its bird flu vaccine developed in collaboration with GSK plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>).  
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Photo: Shutterstock

Bird Flu Raising Red Flags Among Health Officials, CDC Urges Faster Testing

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/01/16/bird-flu-testing-patients-in-hospital/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/01/16/bird-flu-testing-patients-in-hospital/</a>
&nbsp;
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hospitals treating people for the flu should test them for avian influenza within 24 hours.

AEMD

'As Bird Flu Affects More People And Animals, CDC Urges Faster Testing' - Washington Post

Novavax's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NYSE">NVAX</a>) short percent of float has fallen 5.74% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 36.92 million shares sold short, which is 28.74% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 11.49 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Novavax Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736784016_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Novavax has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Novavax's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Novavax's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 12.58%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Looking Into Novavax's Recent Short Interest

Novavax Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVAX#NASDAQ">NVAX</a>) shares are trading lower by 9.8% to $8.40 during Monday&#8217;s session amid weakness in vaccine stocks after Moderna issued 2025 revenue guidance <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42946454/moderna-expects-lower-annual-sales-expands-cost-cutting-initiatives">below analyst estimates</a>.
What To Know: Shares of several vaccine makers, including Novavax, dropped sharply on Monday as Moderna&#8217;s announcement of lower-than-expected 2025 revenue projections rattled investor confidence across the sector.
Moderna, whose stock fell around 23% Monday morning, expects 2025 revenues of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion, significantly below the consensus of $2.95 billion, largely tied to weakening demand for its Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine and mRESVIA RSV vaccine.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42901509/why-novavax-nvax-stock-is-volatile-this-week">Why Novavax Stock Is Volatile This Week</a>
The news also intensified concerns about diminishing COVID-19 vaccine revenues and broader industry challenges as pandemic-driven demand continues to wane. 
What Else: Novavax, which relies heavily on its COVID-19 vaccine sales, saw its stock decline likely amid fears that heightened competition from Moderna's streamlined portfolio strategy could erode market share further.
The selloff could also reflect a broader skepticism about vaccine makers&#8217; ability to adapt to post-pandemic market realities, with investors reevaluating growth prospects and long-term demand for new and existing products in the space.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42944934/wall-street-slashes-interest-rate-cut-bets-after-jobs-data-are-hikes-back-on-the-table">Wall Street Slashes Interest Rate Cut Bets After Jobs Data: Are Hikes Back On The Table?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Should I Sell My NVAX Stock?</h2>
Whether to sell or hold a stock largely depends on an investor's strategy and risk tolerance. Swing traders may sell an outperforming stock to lock in a capital gain, while long-term investors might ride out the turbulence in anticipation of further share price growth.
Similarly, traders willing to minimize losses may sell a stock that falls a certain percentage, while long-term investors may see this as an opportunity to buy more shares at a discounted price.
Shares of Novavax have gained 94.47% year to date. This compares to the average annual return of -56.39%, meaning the stock has outperformed its historical averages. Investors can compare a stock's movement to its historical performance to gauge whether this is a normal movement or a potential trading opportunity. 
Investors may also consider market dynamics. The Relative Strength Index can be used to indicate whether a stock is overbought or oversold. Novavax stock currently has an RSI of 58.05, indicating neutral conditions.
For analysis tools, charting data and access to exclusive stock news, check out <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga PRO. Try it for free.</a>

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