Biotechnology company and mRNA vaccine developer Moderna has launched a new campaign in Australia focussing on the “possibilities” of mRNA technology.
This comes as the biotech company and the Australian government work to produce 100 million mRNA vaccine doses per year at a soon-to-be-completed manufacturing facility in 2024.
“mRNA could change how we stand up to multiple diseases, from the widespread to the extremely rare … it could even individualise how we approach cancer,” the advertisement states.
Additionally, Moderna says it aims to create an approachable and inclusive connection with its audience while “expanding Australians’ understanding of the possibilities of mRNA technology.”
Michael Azrak, GM of Moderna ANZ, said the campaign will “aid in generating awareness for the unique intersection of technology, humanity and health at which we operate.”
“Our mission is to deliver the greatest possible impact of mRNA science to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients,” Mr. Azrak said in a media statement.
What the Sceptics Say
Meanwhile, there has been criticism of the ad, particularly from those critical of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, which saw the biotech company reel in $19.3 billion (AU$30 billion) in 2022.Dr. Phillip Altman, a clinical trial and regulatory affairs consultant, described Moderna’s ad campaign as “deceptive advertising” as it does not mention the dangers of mRNA-based therapeutics.
Dr. Altman has worked primarily within the Australian pharmaceutical industry in relation to clinical trial design, management, and reporting for obtaining new drug approvals; he has also worked with the secretary of the Department of Health and the TGA.
The doctor is critical of mRNA vaccines, having previously said that Australian doctors are “often reluctant to admit” to the possibility that COVID vaccines are causing “serious injury and death” due to health regulators’ pressure for doctors to adhere to the “safe COVID vaccine only narrative” or be labelled “anti-vax.”
“Moderna’s TV advertisement promoting mRNA based drugs should not be allowed to be broadcast,” Dr. Altman told The Epoch Times.
“It creates a false impression that mRNA-based therapeutics are a panacea. The only mRNA-based therapeutics used to date on a population-wide basis (COVID-19 “vaccines”) have produced a reported incidence of serious adverse drug reactions never before seen in the pharmaceutical industry.”
Senator Ralph Babet, who is also critical of Moderna’s campaign, said that Australian taxpayers need transparency on what indemnities the government has provided to the biotech company.
“Indemnities have been granted to Moderna and other vaccine manufacturers, but the details of these indemnities have been suppressed,” Sen. Babet told The Epoch Times.
“My concern lies with our government and our bureaucracy’s lack of accountability to the Australian people.
“We’ve seen more than 139,500 reported adverse events from COVID-19 vaccines. I urge the government to refuse any requests for indemnification and make big pharma pay for any adverse events for future jabs. We can’t keep taking risks at the expense of taxpayers.”
“The Australian government has agreed to provide certain indemnities to Moderna in relation to the Moderna mRNA Partnership for onshore end-to-end population scale mRNA manufacturing capability.
“These indemnities cover certain liabilities that could result from implementation of the Partnership. These indemnities are also mutual in nature, reflecting risk-sharing arrangements with Moderna to limit financial exposure to the Australian government.”
The ‘SuperJab’
Following a successful phase one and two trials on its so-called “superjab” or mRNA-1083—one vaccine dose that targets both COVID-19 and influenza—Moderna says it is “excited” to move onto phase three trials and then work alongside public health officials to address both diseases.Clinical results from phase one and two trials show the “superjab” vaccine’s antibody response to be “similar to or greater” than existing quadrivalent influenza vaccines, while its response against COVID-19 is similar to the Spikevax bivalent booster shot.
“It is my opinion that Moderna’s plan to produce a ”super jab” containing a combination of an influenza and COVID “vaccine” is a particularly bad idea.
In the past, any combination product proposed for registration needed to be supported by an argument which justifies the combination. There are relatively few combinations of active drugs which merit a combination product. I cannot think why one would combine two vaccines, one of which is usually given annually and the other given at various intervals (eg. Covid booster injections). In addition, the Covid “vaccines” have a very different safety (or lack of safety) profile as compared to influenza vaccines.
A comparison of the safety of the two vaccines is provided by the “Western Australian Vaccine Safety surveillance—Annual Report 2021” which states the following: In 2021 a total of 5,756,723 vaccine doses were administered in WA, up from 2,071,167 in 2020. Of this amount, 3,948,673 individual doses of COVID-19 vaccine were recorded in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) as being administered to WA residents. The increase in vaccine administration resulted in a significant increase in reports of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI), with Western Australian Vaccine Safety Surveillance system receiving 10,726 individual AEFI reports in 2021, up from 270 in 2020 [when there were no Covid vaccines]. Of these AEFI, 10,428 (97%) occurred after a COVID-19 vaccine.
Given the vastly different safety profile of the two vaccines, it makes no sense to combine them. Some individuals wishing to receive an influenza vaccine may not need (eg. existing natural Covid immunity) or want a Covid “vaccine” (eg prior adverse reaction to mRNA vaccines). In addition, the optimal dosage interval for the two vaccine components, in all proability, will not be the same.”
If approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia will play a key role in the superjab’s manufacture.
