A fresh debate over COVID-19 vaccine safety has surfaced after Elon Musk shared and commented on claims made by a former pharmaceutical toxicologist during a hearing in Germany’s parliament. The discussion quickly spread across social media, drawing strong reactions from both supporters and critics.
The testimony was given by Dr Helmut Sterz, a former toxicology expert who has worked with pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer. Speaking before a parliamentary committee reviewing Germany’s COVID-19 response, he questioned whether all long-term safety studies for mRNA vaccines were fully completed before emergency approval was granted.
He also raised concerns about certain reported side effects, suggesting that broader interpretation of adverse event data could point to higher risks. However, these claims are not confirmed by independent scientific reviews and remain disputed within the medical community.
Elon Musk added to the attention around the hearing by posting about it on social media. He also shared his personal experience with COVID-19 vaccination, saying he felt extremely unwell after his second dose and at one point feared he might need medical attention. His comments were widely shared and sparked renewed discussion online.
Public health experts have responded by cautioning against drawing conclusions from isolated testimonies or raw reporting data. They point out that vaccine safety monitoring systems record all health events after vaccination, whether or not the vaccine is actually the cause. This means the numbers can be misunderstood without proper scientific analysis.
Health authorities in Europe and other regions continue to maintain that COVID-19 vaccines went through large-scale testing and ongoing safety monitoring, and they remain effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalisation.