AOPP Urges Government to Release SAV Analysis of mRNA Vaccines and Oust Kotlar

Bratislava, 29 August (TASR) – The Association for the Protection of Patients' Rights (AOPP) called on Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) on Thursday to urgently publish the full text of the Slovak Academy of Sciences' (SAV) analysis of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, and it's also demanding the dismissal of Government Proxy for Investigating the COVID-19 Pandemic Management Peter Kotlar over his attempts to mislead the public and discredit Slovakia's scientific and professional community, TASR learnt on the same day. "AOPP expresses deep concern that the only message coming from top state authorities is questioning of the quality of work carried out by experts at SAV. This is especially troubling given that the government itself, based on Kotlar's request, commissioned SAV to conduct the vaccine analysis," the association stated. "It is therefore alarming that the same government now claims that SAV is not a certified institution for such work and that its report — confirming the safety and reliability of mRNA vaccines and detecting only standard trace amounts of DNA — must be re-evaluated," added AOPP. The association stressed that patients are particularly sensitive to information regarding their health and safety. "Current public disputes over COVID-19 vaccines risk eroding trust in scientific and medical authorities. Most patients are understandably lay people who rely on the guidance of experts and health-care professionals. If the state considers people like Peter Kotlar to be experts, patients will become victims of demagoguery and conspiracy theories, ultimately to the detriment of their health," warned AOPP. Kotlar, who this week ruled out stepping down, has dismissed the findings of SAV's analysis of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that the institution is not a certified laboratory. He said that he's awaiting the outcome of an official criminal investigation. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) expressed full support for Kotlar on Wednesday (August 27), calling him an honorable man and a vocal champion of "common sense". "I won't allow any pressure for his resignation," said Fico, rejecting suggestions that his trust in Kotlar equates to undermining SAV's credibility. Last Thursday (August 21), the Slovak Academy of Sciences announced that its analysis showed mRNA vaccines contain only trace amounts of DNA, far below approved safety limits. It added that the risks raised by Kotlar weren't confirmed, and that claims about high DNA levels were based on flawed methods or misinterpreted data, calling such assertions misleading and incorrect. Kotlar declined to comment for TASR, saying he wants the matter to be resolved by the courts. mf/df