[ad_1]
Sharks may have a precious ingredient for the covid-19 vaccine, and that could spell their death. The one who warns you is Shark Allies, a Californian organization for the defense of sharks, which launched a petition against the extraction of squalene from these animals, recommending that it be done from sustainable options – already existing.
According to the organization, around three thousand sharks are killed to extract one ton of squalene, an oil produced in the liver of these animals that increases the effectiveness of the vaccine, creating a stronger immune response. In total, if for every person in the world a vaccine were produced with squalene extracted from sharks, 250,000 would have to be killed. If the vaccine had to be given twice, the number would double, depending on the amount used.
“Squalene made from shark liver oil is commonly used because it is cheap and easy to obtain, not because it is more effective than other sources,” warns Shark Allies, on the petition page. Olive oil, sugar cane, yeast or even seaweed are some of the alternatives to shark liver that the organization presents.
GlaxoSmithKlone said in May that it would produce 1 billion doses of this component for potential use in the covid-19 vaccine. The British pharmaceutical company uses shark squalene in flu vaccines.
The Shark Allies petition has around 12,000 signatures, but aims to reach 15,000. “This could spell disaster for sharks and humans, as it is not a sustainable or reliable option for producing the covid-19 vaccine,” they write. “Shark squalene production is based on a finite population of animals. Most shark species are already at critical levels and will not be able to support an increase in demand for a global vaccine. “
