A recent survey conducted by the Forsa Institute in Germany has revealed that 17% of respondents reported experiencing adverse effects following a COVID-19 vaccination.
The survey, commissioned by Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung and online magazine Multipolar, polled 1,002 people between October 7-8. While 73% of respondents reported no side effects, 35% stated they personally knew someone who had experienced severe reactions to the mRNA-based vaccines.
The survey’s findings have sparked debate, with experts like Steve Kirsch, founder of the Vaccine Safety Research Foundation, questioning the safety of the vaccines. Kirsch argued that such a high percentage of adverse reports is alarming, calling for accountability from those promoting the vaccine.
Dr. Christof Plothe, a member of the World Council for Health’s steering committee, emphasized the significance of the data, suggesting that up to 11 million Germans could have been affected by vaccine-related side effects.
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The survey also highlighted broader public skepticism, with 40% of participants supporting a formal investigation into the German government’s COVID-19 policies and vaccine rollout.
Despite this, Dr. Harald Walach, founder of the Change Health Science Institute, expressed doubts that such an inquiry would materialize due to political pressures.
He added that adverse events might be underreported, as the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Germany’s vaccine regulatory body, has stopped monitoring vaccine-related adverse events.
The debate over vaccine safety continues, with critics raising concerns about the German government’s transparency.
Comparisons have been drawn to other countries, where inquiries into COVID-19 responses have faced accusations of ignoring vaccine injuries and the harms of pandemic countermeasures like lockdowns.
Meanwhile, opposition parties in Germany, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), have begun advocating for further investigations, especially in regions where the party has gained significant electoral support.
As public discourse evolves, the survey results reflect growing unease among some Germans, with calls for accountability intensifying in the wake of emerging data on vaccine-related side effects.