A newly published peer-reviewed study has raised alarms about potential DNA contamination in Pfizer’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccines. Conducted by student scientists at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) White Oak Campus lab, the study reveals that the vaccines contain levels of residual DNA that exceed the regulatory safety limits by up to 470 times.
The research, which was published in the Journal of High School Science, examined samples of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccines obtained from BEI Resources, a supplier linked to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Using NanoDrop and Qubit methods to measure DNA levels, the study found that six vials from two different vaccine lots contained DNA fragments far above the 10-nanogram limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccines.
Residual DNA refers to small genetic fragments that may remain in medicines or vaccines after the manufacturing process, often as a byproduct of the cell cultures or processes used. While the health risks of these DNA fragments remain unclear, researchers have raised concerns that they could potentially integrate into human DNA, leading to gene mutations. Furthermore, fragments may contain oncogenes, which could increase the risk of cancer, the study suggests.
Although the findings do not provide conclusive evidence of harm, experts have called for further investigation. Kevin McKernan, the founder of Medicinal Genomics, described the study as a “bombshell,” warning that the overstimulation of the immune system by these DNA fragments could fuel cancer growth, particularly with repeated exposure from ongoing Covid-19 boosters.
“There’s a real risk that repeated exposure to foreign DNA through Covid-19 boosters may amplify this risk over time,” McKernan said, adding that this could create conditions conducive to cancer development.
Nikolai Petrovsky, an immunology professor and head of Vaxine, an Australian biotechnology company, called the findings a “smoking gun,” urging regulators to take immediate action. Petrovsky also accused the FDA of withholding critical information from the public, claiming the agency was aware of the data, as the study was conducted in its own lab.
The FDA has yet to issue a public response to the study. Regulatory authorities, including the FDA, have previously dismissed concerns about DNA contamination in Covid-19 vaccines, maintaining that such contamination does not pose a health risk. However, with mounting expert concerns, the new study is likely to reignite debate on the safety and oversight of vaccine manufacturing processes.
