In a recent session of the German Bundestag, German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach made a stunning claim, denying the existence of DNA contamination in COVID-19 vaccines. Lauterbach insisted that “the vaccines are manufactured with RNA, not with DNA.” However, this statement contradicts the well-known fact that the mRNA used in the most widely-used COVID-19 vaccine, developed by German company BioNTech and its American partner Pfizer, is manufactured from plasmid DNA. Several researchers, including those in Germany, have discovered extensive DNA contamination in batches of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine, which consists of residual DNA from the mRNA manufacturing process.
The issue was raised by Martin Sichert, a member of the Bundestag, who questioned Lauterbach about the German Government's plans to address DNA contamination in COVID vaccines. In response, Lauterbach dismissed the question as unscientific and reiterated that the vaccines are manufactured using RNA, not DNA. Sichert, in a tweet describing the exchange, criticized Lauterbach for being “dangerously clueless” about mRNA vaccines.
But Lauterbach was not the only minister displaying denial and devotion to mRNA technology. German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius also faced questions about the justification for the German army's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, considering the widespread acknowledgment that the vaccine does not prevent viral transmission. When confronted with these concerns, Pistorius responded by emphasizing that the COVID-19 vaccine is the most effective protection against serious illness and death and plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of infection and transmission. He dismissed any further disputes on the matter.
The Minister's response was met with applause from other members of the Bundestag. This display of support highlights the government's strong stance on mRNA technology, which seems to have become a cornerstone of German industrial policy.
These exchanges in the German Bundestag shed light on the disconnect between government officials and the scientific realities surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. The denial of DNA contamination in the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine by Lauterbach and the dismissal of concerns about the vaccine's effectiveness by Pistorius raise questions about the level of understanding and transparency within the German government.
