Dear Dr. Dr. Scherer, you have already given us an interview about coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), when only the virus started spreading around the world in March 2020 (read here). Unfortunately, this virus and the COVID-19 disease are still being felt around the world. As a biologist who studies pathogenic microorganisms, how do you see the potential future of the COVID-19 situation? in the world in the next 20 years?
The COVID-19 virus is new to most people. Although cases of infection with an almost identical virus have been observed for about 20 years, they were limited to only certain parts of Asia. This means that most people do not yet have immunity to the COVID-19 virus. This will change over the next few years. Humanity will adapt to this virus just as it has adapted, for example, to the influenza virus. In other words, immunity within the population will increase. Perhaps in a few years, we’ll have the same situation with the coronavirus as we do today with the flu virus.
Adaptation to such pathogenic microorganisms is based on the ingenious immune system that the Creator has endowed not only humans with, but all living beings. If the Creator had not equipped us with an immune system, we would not be able to survive at all.
That sounds promising. Can a COVID-19 vaccine actually defeat the virus and bring back the «good old days»? How likely is that?
In my opinion, COVID-19 vaccination is a key factor in curbing the virus. However, for various reasons, we will most likely not be able to completely eradicate it, just as we have not been able to do so with the flu. But it is possible to significantly reduce the number of people who contract COVID-19. Nevertheless, I believe that there will continue to be fatal cases. The number of such cases will depend mainly on how well we can protect vulnerable segments of our population, in part through vaccination. This applies especially to older adults and people with underlying health conditions.
The purpose of vaccination is to prepare an immune response to a specific virus. How exactly does this work in conventional vaccines?
Several coronavirus vaccines are currently being developed. Many of these vaccines are based on traditional principles. For example, an adenovirus is genetically modified so that it can produce a small, harmless fragment of the pathogen against which protection is sought. This modified, relatively harmless adenovirus is grown by pharmaceutical companies in chicken eggs or in so-called cell cultures, purified, and administered to the patient during vaccination. Our immune system then recognizes the part of the pathogen present in the adenovirus and mounts an immune response (production of antibodies). If a person later becomes infected with the pathogen, our immune system is already very well prepared and can quickly neutralize the pathogen: either the person will not get sick at all, or the illness will be milder.
So how is the new mRNA (matrix ribonucleic acid) vaccine technology different?
With the help of new RNA vaccines, so-called mRNA is introduced into the human body; this serves as «assembly instructions» for a part of the coronavirus. Human cells use this blueprint to produce a harmless version of that part of the coronavirus. Our immune system responds by mounting an immune reaction against it, meaning antibodies are also produced. If a vaccinated person is subsequently exposed to the coronavirus, they will be able to defend themselves against it very quickly.
Is it known how mRNA vaccines are produced?
Yes, this information is common knowledge and available. There is nothing mysterious about it.
How long does the mRNA of the virus remain in the human body after vaccination?
Injected mRNA is cleaved in the human body within about two days. This cleavage process is very well known and is one of the normal biochemical mechanisms operating in every human cell.
That's interesting. So after mRNA vaccination, the virus doesn't remain in the human body forever, but only for a few days. In that case, what happens to the antibodies against the coronavirus that have been produced?
Antibodies against COVID-19 remain in the body for several months. Over time, the concentration of these antibodies decreases. However, we retain special cells of the immune system that remember this virus for a long time. Thus, immunity is maintained for a longer period of time. However, we do not yet know exactly how long the antibodies persist and how long the memory cells persist.
The mRNA technology currently used in the COVID-19 vaccine is new. To what extent have the uses and implications of this technology already been investigated?
Although the use of mRNA vaccines is a relatively new development, a certain amount of experience with this technology has been gained over the past few years. However, the first mRNA-based vaccines were only recently approved. However, based on controlled studies involving more than 100,000 vaccinated individuals, it is known that this vaccine currently has no recognizable side effects that are not already known from other vaccines. This is also fully confirmed by patients vaccinated as part of ongoing vaccination programs, of whom there are already about three million in Israel alone.
However, since the vaccine is only administered for a short time, it is not known whether there could be late side effects. Based on the information available to me, I assume that possible late side effects would not be fundamentally different from those seen in very rare cases with classical vaccines. But, to say for sure, you'll have to be patient.
Can we say that the vaccine authorization procedures were rushed and not careful enough?
As far as I know, all important safety aspects have been taken into account, despite the fact that the authorization was granted unprecedentedly quickly. However, there is one weakness: it has not yet been possible to investigate possible late side effects.
This is probably because it usually takes decades to study all the long-term effects of vaccination. But you still think that the risk of late effects with mRNA vaccination is not higher than with conventional vaccination against other viruses?
I see no reason why new vaccines should produce special late effects that will be different from the single late effects of other vaccines. However, we won't know for sure until a few years from now.
There are already numerous rumors and even conspiracy theories circulating on this topic, which is causing some uncertainty among people.
Yes, unfortunately there are actually a lot of rumors and conspiracy theories going around. It's very sad and it happens again and again when people are afraid or don't feel understood in their fears - including by the government. But I'm not embarrassed by it.
For example, is it possible that coronavirus vaccinations implant electronic chips into humans?
No, it's just a rumor.
Then what are the real risks of vaccination against COVID-19?
It is more accurate to talk about side effects. In general, there are a number of side effects of vaccination. It can't be otherwise, because the purpose of the vaccine is to trigger an immune system response. These often involve mild inflammation at the injection site, sometimes redness and swelling, sometimes also fever, joint pain or a feeling of weakness. This is normal and these symptoms usually go away very quickly. This is exactly what is seen with the corona vaccination.
About eight weeks ago, I was vaccinated against Herpes Zoster virus, as well as the flu virus, and before that, at the end of the summer, against some bacteria. When I was vaccinated against the Herpes Zoster virus, I clearly observed the aforementioned side effects in myself, both with the first and second dose. This indicated to me that the vaccination was successful, then I took a day of physical rest and rested, after which the symptoms disappeared.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that, in very rare cases, vaccinations can have serious side effects, which in such cases constitute real risks in the truest sense of the word. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccine, for example, people with allergies have experienced severe side effects. Therefore, people with allergies should not get vaccinated.
It has now also been proven that vaccination can pose risks to the very elderly and seriously ill individuals, and can even lead to isolated cases of death, as has been seen, for example, in Norway. But in this regard as well, as far as I know, the new SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is no different from other vaccines. In any case, ask your doctor whether vaccination is recommended in your case.
As a general rule, no medical procedure is completely risk-free. Therefore, it is necessary to weigh the risk associated with vaccination against the risk of getting sick without vaccination.
But a lot of people have allergies. For example, I have a hay runny nose and pollen allergy in spring. Should I not be vaccinated against COVID-19 in this case?
By now we only know to be careful if you have already had an allergic shock reaction. Then it can become dangerous. Hay fever or food intolerance is not an obstacle.
In other words, with the exception of people who have already experienced anaphylactic shock, this vaccine is safe. Can we also say that this vaccine cannot cause COVID-19 itself, exacerbate other chronic conditions, or lead to organ failure?
Under no circumstances can vaccination lead to infection with the coronavirus; that is impossible. As mentioned above, older adults or those with serious pre-existing medical conditions should consult their family doctor before receiving any vaccination. This also applies to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Is this vaccination compatible with other vaccines, especially for older adults? In other words, if you already received vaccinations against the flu, pneumonia, and herpes several months ago, does it make sense to get vaccinated against COVID-19 now, or would that be too much of a burden on your immune system?
As far as I know, there should be enough time between two vaccinations, a few months is not a problem. Again, it depends on the type of vaccination and also on your personal health, your family doctor can judge this well.
How likely is it that an mRNA vaccine can alter human DNA?
For chemical reasons, injected mRNA cannot cause a direct change in human DNA. However, mRNA can be «rewritten» into DNA by special enzymes derived from other viruses. This process is unlikely, but it can also alter human DNA.
By the way, when people are administered adenoviruses (i.e., certain common vaccines), they receive a large amount of viral DNA. Yet no changes to human DNA have ever been observed. But even if changes did occur in human DNA, they would not be harmful based on everything we know about this so far.
In other words, it is extremely unlikely that mRNA vaccination would cause changes in a person’s DNA. But what exactly do you mean by «not harmful» when we’re talking about possible changes to our DNA? Do such «harmless changes» occur frequently in human DNA?
Yes, our DNA is constantly changing, but the probability of this happening is low. This occurs, for example, during certain viral infections or through the DNA of plants and animals that we eat. Our bodies were created by the Creator in such a way that, as far as I know, we can cope with such DNA changes very well. I don’t see any potential danger here.
It is claimed that young women can become infertile due to antibodies produced by the mRNA vaccine.
To my knowledge there is no known scientific evidence for this claim. Incidentally, this is also true of the antibodies that humans produce during natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. In 40,000 pregnant women in the US who tested positive for coronavirus, no particular pregnancy complications were observed.
Is it true that cells from aborted human embryos are used to create SARS-Cov-2 vaccines?
No, this method is not fundamentally applicable to mRNA vaccines.
The human kidney cell line «HEK 293», derived in 1973 from a female embryo aborted in Holland, is sometimes used to produce viruses required for vaccination in conventional vaccines. I understand that this is the case for the coronavirus vaccines produced by AstraZeneca, CanSino and Gamaleya.
In 1973 in Holland, abortions were allowed only if the mother's life was in danger, but the circumstances of the girl's abortion were unknown. It is everyone's personal ethical decision to accept for themselves a vaccine produced on this basis.
Are there good reasons to completely abandon mRNA vaccination and wait for the classical vaccination against COVID-19? Or are there reasons to prefer mRNA vaccination?
There are already vaccines against coronavirus that are conventionally produced. Personally, based on current scientific findings, I believe that an mRNA vaccine is preferable to a conventionally produced vaccine.
What do you think about the Russian vaccine Sputnik 5 and will it be possible to vaccinate with this substance in Germany?
The Sputnik 5 vaccine is a vaccine produced according to classical methods. It uses a genetically modified, harmless adenovirus. Once the vaccine is approved by the German authorities (which will probably be considered in February), nothing can be said against this vaccine due to safety aspects, as far as I know. Again, a family doctor should be consulted beforehand here.
Should I volunteer to be vaccinated against COVID-19?
On the one hand, this is a matter of personal risk assessment. It is well known that people aged 60 and older sometimes face the risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19. A very large number of COVID-19 deaths occur in the age group over 75. Therefore, if a doctor gives their approval, I recommend that these people get vaccinated.
I am of medium risk due to my age and pre-existing conditions, and will be vaccinated with the mRNA vaccine in the near future. I am convinced that the benefits far outweigh the risks.
On the other hand, one should also think about the positive effects of the vaccine in that the vaccinated person probably largely ceases to be a carrier of the coronavirus and thus protects the people around them.
As people of faith, we can certainly applaud medical advances. Personally, I would not be alive today if it were not for high-tech medicine in our country. As a Christian, I believe that God has given us our minds so that through science, among other things, we can develop medical techniques that can protect and save lives. So I thank God for the medical facilities that are available to us in our country.
Do you think vaccination will become mandatory - officially or unofficially?
At present, German politicians are virtually unanimous in their promise that this will not happen. I naturally expect the government to keep these promises. Personally, I do not believe that the COVID-19 situation warrants the introduction of mandatory vaccination on medical grounds.
The last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, sees a world in our future in which all people are governed in such a way that «no one can buy or sell unless he has a sign, namely, the name of the beast or the number of his name» (Rev. 13:17). As a follower of Joshua, How likely do you think it is that the current situation will lead to such a future?
Personally, I believe that the Book of Revelation by the Apostle John foretells spiritually significant aspects of the future world. Some of this has already come to pass; some of it is still to come. We can now imagine what this might look like technically, when «no one can buy or sell.» But in my view, this has nothing to do with COVID-19. I believe it has much more to do with the elimination of cash, as planned by certain interest groups. Once we reach the point where we can only pay electronically—that is, with a credit card or debit card, via a cell phone, or with actual electronic chips implanted under the skin—we will be subject to complete electronic control. Our bank account could be frozen with a single click of a mouse, and we would no longer be able to buy groceries, we would no longer be able to use the subway, and we would no longer be able to get gas at a gas station. At first glance, this ability to exercise control may seem harmless in a democratic state, but it can very easily be exploited by dictatorial regimes to exert total control over the population.
That is why I strongly and emphatically oppose the abolition of cash in our country; I find such plans extremely disturbing and very dangerous.
I think we are increasingly seeing at least some of the events foretold in Revelation taking shape on the horizon of world history. But God—He is the Lord of history. As people of faith, we have no reason to fear, because Yeshua said, when speaking of the last days: «When these things begin to take place, stand up straight and lift up your heads—your redemption is drawing near!» (Luke 21:28). I thank God for the wonderful hope He has given us in His Word, and I look to the future with confidence and joy, because Yeshua, our Lord, is coming!
