SaS: Czech Academy of Sciences Calls Proxy's Claims on mRNA Vaccines Misleading

Bratislava, 11 February (TASR) - Claims by the Slovak Government Proxy for Investigating Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic Peter K. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons] are misleading, according to an expert opinion by the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, which, on the contrary, described an analysis by the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) as methodologically sound and in line with the global scientific consensus, opposition MP Tomas Szalay (SaS) reported at a press conference on Wednesday. Szalay said this with respect to the criminal charges brought against Peter K. for spreading false alarms. The MP noted that the Czech academy’s opinion has been commissioned by the investigator. "I visited the police last week to review the investigation file, and I've got some news. Peter K. has been officially charged with spreading false-alarm information by deliberately disseminating false claims about the toxicity and genetic risks of mRNA vaccines. The charge itself runs to 43 pages," said Szalay, adding that the investigation has shown that Peter K. knowingly ignored scientific facts and misused his government post to stir up fear and promote dangerous conspiracy theories. Szalay noted that the Czech academy has identified incorrect data interpretation by molecular geneticist Sona Pekova, whom Peter K. cites. According to the Czech academy, the data that she presented don't prove the presence of full DNA in vaccines but only fragments, which is in line with standards. "Although her expert opinion formally appears sound, it lacks the standard controls necessary for analysis, such as checks on the efficiency of nucleic acid isolation or contamination," said Szalay, citing the Czech assessment. The opinion also stresses that there's no evidence that residual DNA from vaccines could find its way into the human genome. The Czech academy also pointed to what Szalay described as a surprising misunderstanding of virology and epidemiology by Peter K. and Pekova. It labelled their claims misleading and unsupported by scientific literature. According to the Czech academy, Pekova's analysis also contains nonsensical comparisons. In addition, the academy criticised the credibility of the authors cited by Peter K. and Pekova. "If he has any evidence that these vaccines are harmful, if he has any convincing arguments that he wants to present to the government, he should have submitted them to the investigator," said Szalay, adding that Peter K. has provided no relevant evidence to the police. Support from Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) hasn't helped Peter K., either, added Szalay, arguing that Fico's statements have only increased the serious nature of the offence of which the proxy is accused. MP Jana Bitto Ciganikova (SaS) stressed that Peter K. isn't a victim but an accused person who has failed to support his claims with evidence. "We need to realise that if he hadn't spread this rubbish, he wouldn't have been seen on camera or in Parliament. That's the only reason he's spreading this - for his own personal gain," she said, adding that SaS representatives will initiate a parliamentary inquiry at the office of the government Proxy for Investigating the Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic. mf/df