Shares of Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) plummeted 5.03% during Wednesday's intraday trading session, as investors reacted to multiple negative factors affecting the company's outlook. The sharp decline comes amid discussions by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisers about potentially narrowing the recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots, which could significantly impact Moderna's vaccine revenues.

The CDC's outside panel of experts raised the idea of recommending updated COVID shots only for those at risk of severe disease, a departure from the current recommendation that everyone aged six months and older should receive an updated COVID shot. This potential policy shift could lead to a substantial decrease in demand for Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines, a key revenue driver for the company.

Adding to the downward pressure, Leerink Partners cut its target price for Moderna from $27 to $23, reflecting growing concerns about the company's financial prospects. The negative sentiment was further exacerbated by Moderna's recent financial performance, which showed the slowest revenue growth among its peers in the therapeutics sector. The company's Q4 results revealed a 65.6% year-over-year decline in revenues to $966 million, coupled with a weak full-year guidance that missed analysts' expectations.

As Moderna faces challenges in maintaining its COVID-19 vaccine sales and struggles to diversify its revenue streams, investors appear to be reassessing the company's valuation and growth potential. The stock's significant decline reflects the market's concerns about Moderna's ability to navigate the evolving landscape of COVID-19 vaccinations and successfully commercialize its pipeline of mRNA-based therapies beyond the pandemic.