Latest news with #Pfizer
International Business Times
41 minutes ago
- Health
- International Business Times
Pfizer COVID Vaccine May Lead to Vision Loss, Scientists Say
The COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer may lead to vision loss and increase the risk of eye damage, according to a new study. The shocking discovery was made by a group of scientists in Turkey. Through their research, the scientists specifically focused on how this vaccine affected the patients' corneas, the front part of the eye that allows light to enter. The study, titled Evaluation of the Effects of mRNA-COVID 19 Vaccines on Corneal Endothelium, focused on the changes in the endothelium, the cornea's inner layer, before and after receiving the Pfizer dose. The scientists examined the changes in 64 people's Endothelium before they received their first Pfizer dose and two months after they received their second dose. The results revealed that taking both doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine led to fewer endothelial cells in the eye, thicker corneas, and variations in the sizes of these specialized cells, which form the endothelium. The patients did not suffer from clear vision problems during the study. But the results showed that the Pfizer vaccine may temporarily weaken the endothelium. Pfizer COVID Jab and Vision Loss During the study, the researchers found out that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine led to a roughly two percent increase in micrometers in a patient's cornea. The vaccine caused the patients' cornea thickness to increase from roughly 0.0208 inches to 0.0213 inches, or from 528 to 542 micrometers. Eye Test Pixabay/Paul Diaconu The scientists also found that the participants lost around eight percent in the average number of endothelial cells, which keep the cornea clear by pumping out excess fluid. The study revealed that the patients' endothelial cells dropped from 2,597 to 2,378 cells per square millimeter. Though the normal endothelial cell counts range between 2000 and 3000 cells per square millimeter in healthy adults, an individual with a low cell count due to a disease, infection, or previous eye surgery could be at risk of losing their vision. The Impact These small changes may not lead to vision loss in people with healthy eyes in the short term. A slightly thicker cornea may not be harmful because it can temporarily thicken due to fluid buildup, inflammation, or stress on the endothelium from injuries to the eyes or minor illness. Eye Pixabay/Jonas Zareinia However, if the cornea remains thick for months or years, it may affect vision by making the cornea less clear. If the researchers find that the impact could last for years, the changes may lead to blurry vision or corneal swelling, especially in individuals who had a corneal transplant or with pre-existing eye problems. A reduced cell density and thicker cornea could lead to eye conditions, such as corneal decompensation, bullous keratopathy, or corneal edema. These eye conditions could contribute to permanent vision loss if left untreated. "The endothelium should be closely monitored in those with a low endothelial count or who have had a corneal graft," the scientists warned in the new study, published in the Ophthalmic Epidemiology journal. Eye Test Pixabay/Paul Diaconu When and How to Check Endothelial Count? An individual with eye discomfort or blurry vision can check if the cornea's cells are healthy by consulting an eye doctor. The doctor uses a special microscope called specular microscopy to test if the patient has a low endothelial cell count. Several factors, such as eye surgeries, infections, or injuries, eye diseases like Fuchs' dystrophy, and aging, can lead to low endothelial cell count. These factors may damage the cells that are responsible for keeping the cornea clear. Another important factor is that these cells don't grow back. The researchers studied 64 pairs of eyes for this study. The participants took part in the study before they received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. A follow-up was done with the group almost 75 days after they received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. Each participant went through a full eye exam, including scans of the eye's front and back parts, tests for eye pressure, and vision sharpness for ensuring overall eye health.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Reliable Dividend Stocks With Yields Above 6% That You Can Buy With $100 Right Now
Key Points You don't need to be rich to get your money to start working for you. Healthpeak Properties and Pfizer offer dividend yields above 6% at recent prices. You can buy shares of Healthpeak Properties and Pfizer with well less than $100 at the moment. 10 stocks we like better than Healthpeak Properties › If putting your money to work on Wall Street is something you haven't started doing because it feels like a rich person's game and you're not one, I've got good news. Discount brokerages no longer charge the trading fees that made investing in small increments a losing proposition. These days, folks who invest in tiny increments are likely to receive identical returns to wealthier investors who make big trades. At the moment, anyone with $100 to spare can scoop up shares of Healthpeak Properties (NYSE: DOC) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE). Both of these stocks offer dividend yields above 6% at recent prices. Plus, there are good reasons to expect payout raises from these stocks in the near term. Read on to see why they look like great options for everyday investors who want to grow their passive income stream. 1. Healthpeak Properties This healthcare-related real estate investment trust (REIT) expanded last year when Physicians Realty Trust and Healthpeak combined. Going into the merger, Healthpeak was focused on laboratories that are rented out to drugmakers of all sizes. Adding Physicians Realty Trust's portfolio of medical office buildings gave the REIT some diversification that investors appreciate. At the end of March, health systems and physician groups were responsible for 55% of annualized base rent. Drugmakers of different sizes were responsible for another 34% of annualized rent. Continuing care retirement communities and various other facilities rounded out the rest of the portfolio. At 10.1% of annualized rent, HCA Healthcare, a publicly traded hospital operator, is Healthpeak's biggest tenant. Its next largest tenant, CommonSpirit Health, is responsible for 2.9% of rental revenue. Investors can look forward to increasing dividend payouts from Healthpeak Properties stock in the near term. Management expects funds from operations (FFO), a proxy for earnings used to evaluate REITs, to land in a range between $1.81 and $1.87 per share this year. This is more than enough to support raising a payout currently set at an annualized $1.22 per share. The vast majority of Healthpeak's properties are rented out under net leases that leave tenants responsible for nearly all the variable costs associated with owning its buildings. With annual rent escalators written into long-term leases, investors can reasonably expect this REIT's dividend payout to move steadily in the right direction over the long run. 2. Pfizer Shares of America's largest drugmaker are down by about 60% from a peak they reached in 2021. The past four years have been disappointing from a principal-appreciation standpoint, but income-seeking investors are doing just fine. Pfizer's dividend payout has grown every year since 2009. At its beaten down price the stock offers an eye-popping 6.9% dividend yield as I write this. In addition to COVID-19-related revenue that collapsed faster than expected, Pfizer stock is way down because investors are worried about upcoming patent cliffs regarding top-selling medications. Investors have good reasons to be concerned about Pfizer's future cash flows. Earlier this year, CEO Albert Bourla warned that market exclusivity losses would likely reduce revenue by $17 billion to $18 billion beginning in 2026 and ending in 2028. With total sales that rose to $62.5 billion during the 12 months ended this March, filling the holes that exclusivity losses could punch in its income statement won't be easy. Luckily, the company reinvested much of its COVID-19 windfall into a productive development pipeline. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved nine new medicines from Pfizer. In 2024, the company received over a dozen FDA approvals for both new and existing treatments. By 2030, management expects new products that Pfizer acquired to deliver $20 billion in annual revenue. That's enough to keep pushing its big needle forward despite expected losses to patent cliffs. Pfizer's $43 billion acquisition of Seagen in 2023 gave it access to several blockbuster cancer therapies. While their previous owner outsourced manufacturing, Pfizer's plan to bring manufacturing in-house could help profits expand faster than sales in the years ahead. I wouldn't expect rapid dividend payout raises from this stock in the years ahead, but steady movement in the right direction seems likely. Adding some shares to a diversified portfolio now looks like a smart move for investors who want big dividend payments that could grow even larger. Should you invest $1,000 in Healthpeak Properties right now? Before you buy stock in Healthpeak Properties, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Healthpeak Properties wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $687,149!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,060,406!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,069% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025 Cory Renauer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends HCA Healthcare and Healthpeak Properties. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Reliable Dividend Stocks With Yields Above 6% That You Can Buy With $100 Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Sally Susman helped steer Pfizer through COVID-19. Her advice for leaders? Learn to write — and listen.
Pfizer' Communications and Policy Chief Sally Susman has made a name for herself doing just that, such as by helping the pharmaceutical giant launch its COVID-19 vaccine at the height of the pandemic. Susman, who recently announced plans to leave Pfizer later this year after an 18-year-run, previously held similar roles at Estée Lauder and American Express. In an interview with Business Insider, she described her field as one in which there's never an average day and said that it can sometimes be as dramatic as a Hollywood blockbuster. "This work of corporate affairs, communications, public affairs, government affairs is completely so exciting," she said. "I wake up and look at the news across the globe and I think, 'OK, now my agenda is set.' " The profession is also important, as it can make a significant impact on a company's trajectory, according to Susman, who has advised nine CEOs over the course of her career. But she thinks the field sometimes gets misunderstood. "It's a mistake to consider communications a soft skill," she said. "The leaders and people who want to make change, who I've seen embrace and prioritize their communications, and who know it to be a rock-hard competency, are the game changers." Succeeding in the field requires being a strong writer, Susman said. Comms pros are tasked with storytelling, internal messaging, crafting statements for media outlets and more. "There's no substitute for picking up the pen, parsing the arguments, drafting yourself," she said. Still, that doesn't mean you should avoid using AI tools like ChatGPT, she added. In fact, Susman recommends taking advantage of the technology for conducting research and outlining ideas. "I know many people are apprehensive about AI, but it is an important tool," she said. "Just like photography didn't decimate painting, AI is not going to ruin communications." Talking regularly to executives, politicians, and other leaders can also help with writing by providing knowledge and context, Susman added. Conversations she's had with such individuals over the years informed her thinking, she said, which is why "relationships matter so much." Another piece of advice from Susman for aspiring comms pros is to dive into geopolitics. Always keep up with major events happening around the world and ask yourself what these mean for companies and their employees. "The opportunities around what I call 'global policy and diplomacy topics' are unlimited right now," she said. Also, don't punish yourself for making mistakes. Susman said she's made countless gaffes over the course of her career and has no regrets. "There were times when I failed to do enough due diligence, times my ego got the better of me," she said. "It's just human nature. It's humanity. It's what we do when we're out there trying to make a difference." Having mentored interns and junior employees at Pfizer and companies where she previously worked, Susman said she's noticed that many young people seem to suffer from anxiety. She's seen them do things like rewrite their résumés over and over and stress about what they said or didn't say in meetings — none of which is healthy, she said. "We are judged over long, vast, savannahs of time," she said. "We are not judged in a moment."
Arab Times
3 hours ago
- Health
- Arab Times
New study links COVID-19 vaccine to potential eye damage
NEW YORK, July 19: A new scientific study has found that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine may cause temporary changes in the eyes' corneal structure, raising concerns about long-term vision health, particularly for individuals with pre-existing eye conditions. Researchers in Turkey studied 64 participants who received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and discovered measurable changes to the cornea's innermost layer, known as the endothelium. This thin cell layer is vital for keeping the cornea clear by pumping out excess fluid. The study was published Wednesday in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology. The scientists observed that, within two months of vaccination, participants showed a slight thickening of the cornea, a decrease in endothelial cell count, and greater variability in the size of these cells — all potential signs of short-term stress on the eye. 'These changes suggest the vaccine may temporarily weaken the endothelium, though none of the participants experienced vision problems during the study,' the researchers noted. The average corneal thickness increased from 528 to 542 micrometers — about a 2% change. Meanwhile, endothelial cell density dropped from an average of 2,597 to 2,378 cells per square millimeter — an 8% decrease. While this remains within normal limits for healthy adults, the decline could pose a risk for people with already low cell counts, such as those with prior eye surgeries, infections, or conditions like Fuchs' dystrophy. The study also found a drop in the proportion of endothelial cells with a healthy hexagonal shape, from 50% to 48%, and an increase in the coefficient of variation in cell size from 39 to 42 — further indicators of stress or damage. 'These changes are subtle and may not cause immediate harm, but they warrant monitoring, especially in individuals with compromised corneal health,' the authors stated. The research team did not recommend against COVID-19 vaccination but emphasized the need for further long-term studies to determine whether the observed changes persist or worsen over time. 'If these effects on the endothelium continue for years, they could contribute to eye diseases such as corneal edema, bullous keratopathy, or corneal decompensation — all of which can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated,' the study warned. Specialists recommend that people with eye discomfort or blurry vision consult an ophthalmologist. A non-invasive test using a specular microscope can determine endothelial cell health. The study adds to a growing list of side-effect concerns linked to COVID-19 vaccines. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its warning labels on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to include risks of myocarditis and pericarditis — types of heart inflammation — particularly in males aged 16 to 25. Despite these concerns, health authorities maintain that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination continue to outweigh the risks for the majority of the population. The Turkish study involved 128 eyes (64 participants), with each subject undergoing full ophthalmic examinations before receiving their first vaccine dose and approximately 75 days after their second. Researchers used high-precision tools — including Sirius corneal topography and the Tomey EM-4000 specular microscope — to assess corneal thickness and endothelial cell characteristics.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pfizer's (PFE) Dividend Safety: Balancing Innovation and Shareholder Returns
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is included among the 14 Best Pharma Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2025. A medical technician wearing protective gloves and a mask mixing a biopharmaceutical solution. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) hasn't performed well in recent years, with its stock declining more than 26% over the past decade. However, the outlook appears brighter, thanks to its strong pipeline of drugs currently in development. Much of the negative sentiment seems to be already reflected in its depressed share price. Recently, the company's forward P/E ratio stood at 8.3, which is noticeably lower than its five-year average of 10.2. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) reported mixed earnings in the first quarter of 2025. The company posted revenue of $13.7 billion, down 8% on a YoY basis. The revenue also missed analysts' estimates of $335.8 million; however, its EPS of $0.92 beat the consensus by $0.25. The company noted that its emphasis on operational efficiency and financial discipline has been contributing positively to its bottom line. It further stated that performance is currently tracking toward the higher end of its 2025 adjusted diluted EPS guidance range. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)'s strong balance sheet allowed it to return $2.4 billion to shareholders through dividends during the quarter. The company has raised its payouts for 15 years in a row. It offers a quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.03%, as of July 17. While we acknowledge the potential of PFE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
