Testimony of former Pfizer toxicologist raises questions

The appearance of a former employee of a pharmaceutical company in the German parliament has reopened debate about the approval procedures for mRNA vaccines and the quality of their production.

On March 19, 2026, Dr. Helmut Sterz, former chief toxicologist at Pfizer, spoke before one of the Bundestag committees. During the hearing, he stated that mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 did not undergo a full cycle of carcinogenic risk assessment, as their development and market launch took place within compressed timelines.

According to Sterz, when transitioning to large-scale production, a bacterial technological process was used which, he claims, led to the presence of bacterial DNA in finished vials. He described the vaccination campaign as a “vaccination tragedy” and referred to tens of thousands of cases of excess mortality in Germany.

These statements come in the context of ongoing parliamentary hearings in Germany focused on pandemic management, drug approval procedures, and pharmacovigilance. During the period of mass vaccination, decisions were made under accelerated procedures, which repeatedly became a subject of public and political debate.

At the same time, the position of regulatory authorities, including the European Medicines Agency and the Paul Ehrlich Institute, has previously been that mRNA vaccines underwent safety evaluation within existing emergency frameworks. The question of a causal link between vaccination and excess mortality remains the subject of scientific analysis and statistical research.

It is still unclear whether Sterz’s statements will lead to a review of regulatory decisions or to new investigations. The debate in parliament reflects a broader dispute about the balance between rapid crisis response and the depth of long-term research.

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