Vaccine scepticism is nothing new. Ever since inoculations first appeared, there have been those who view them with mistrust. But during the Covid-19 pandemic, that scepticism reached unprecedented levels, fuelled by conspiracy theories that spread virally across social media and ushered in a new era of disinformation. Now, another such story is circulating online: a German-Thai microbiologist, Sucharit Bhakdi, claims that mRNA vaccines have “destroyed the brains of billions”. The assertion is not only scientifically baseless but also part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at eroding trust in vaccines and public institutions.
The theory treated as fact by anti-vaxxers
Dr Sucharit Bhakdi, a German-Thai physician whose name frequently appears in conspiracy circles around coronavirus vaccines, claims that post-vaccination health problems are so severe that “billions of people” have had their brains “damaged” by mRNA vaccines. He argues that these vaccines have irreversibly harmed recipients’ brains, altering the way they think.
According to Bhakdi, the RNA in the vaccine penetrates the brain and causes cells to produce spike proteins, triggering an autoimmune reaction that damages brain tissue. Not a single reputable scientific journal has published any evidence supporting this hypothesis.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made it clear that mRNA vaccines do not enter the cell nucleus and therefore cannot alter human DNA. Because they are injected into muscle tissue, only minimal amounts of vaccine material travel elsewhere in the body. Research shows that mRNA may reach other tissues in trace quantities but breaks down rapidly and is eliminated naturally. Multiple studies confirm that mRNA vaccines do not cross the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances.
Bhakdi’s claim that mRNA vaccines have caused widespread neurological disorders is not supported by official data or clinical trials. Studies show that serious neurological side-effects such as encephalitis or cerebral thrombosis are extremely rare—occurring in fewer than one case per 100,000 doses.
Nor have vaccinated populations shown higher rates of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Most reported neurological symptoms—headache, fatigue or dizziness—are mild, short-lived and similar to the side-effects of other vaccines. More serious complications, such as myocarditis or Guillain-Barré syndrome, are very uncommon and are closely monitored and managed by health authorities.
Bhakdi’s “studies” are considered unfounded and alarmist by the scientific community, and leading peer-reviewed journals have rejected them. Nonetheless, his theories are being presented as scientific fact by Romanian anti-vaccine activists, who deliberately ignore four years’ worth of clinical, biological and epidemiological evidence.
Bhakdi, the notorious vaccine opponent also known for antisemitic remarks
False narratives questioning the efficacy and safety of vaccines have existed for years, but they intensified dramatically with the rollout of Covid-19 inoculations. This wave of disinformation has often been amplified by ultraconservative and religious media outlets and influencers, as well as by politicians who exploit such claims for electoral purposes—including some with close ties to Russia and its propaganda.
Numerous conservative publications promote these falsehoods, attempting to legitimise anti-vaccine narratives through pseudo-experts, anonymous websites, or fabricated citations from non-medical sources.
During the pandemic, Sucharit Bhakdi became a prominent figurehead, fiercely criticising lockdowns, PCR testing, mask mandates and vaccination drives. He endorsed controversial narratives portraying the pandemic as a “hoax” and the vaccines as “too dangerous”. In 2020, his YouTube account was banned for violating misinformation policies. Later, Bhakdi and his wife published a book titled Corona, False Alarm?
Mainz University, where Bhakdi once headed the Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, publicly distanced itself from his views—particularly after he appeared in an online video making antisemitic remarks. He was accused of inciting hatred after repeatedly comparing pandemic-related restrictions to the Holocaust. Although later acquitted, he still faces potential disciplinary action, including the revocation of his PhD title.
Over the years, fact-checking organisations such as USA Today have debunked numerous false claims made by Bhakdi about vaccines, yet his ideas continue to circulate in anti-vaccine communities worldwide.
(Source: veridica.ro)
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