Summary
On March 19, 2026, Dr. Helmut Sterz, former Chief Toxicologist for Pfizer Europe, testified before the German Bundestag’s Enquete-Kommission “Aufarbeitung der Corona-Pandemie und Lehren für zukünftige pandemische Ereignisse.” Invited by the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) parliamentary group, Dr. Sterz presented an estimate that between 20,000 and 60,000 deaths in Germany could be attributed to COVID-19 vaccination. His calculation was based on official death reports from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) and an underreporting factor derived from international pharmacovigilance practices. Dr. Sterz also raised concerns regarding the expedited approval process for mRNA vaccines, the absence of certain long-term safety studies, differences between clinical and mass-produced vaccine batches, and the presence of residual bacterial DNA. He called for a moratorium on mRNA vaccine technology and further independent research. The hearing included testimony from other experts and officials, reflecting a broad review of Germany’s pandemic response.

1. Professional Background of Dr. Helmut Sterz
Dr. Helmut Sterz is a German toxicologist who served as Chief Toxicologist for Pfizer Europe until his retirement in 2008. His responsibilities included oversight of toxicological testing and preclinical safety studies for pharmaceutical products in the European market. Dr. Sterz holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine with a specialization in virology and has over 35 years of experience in pharmaceutical toxicology. 

2. Parliamentary Hearing Details
The testimony took place during the 18th public session of the Bundestag’s Enquete-Kommission “Aufarbeitung der Corona-Pandemie und Lehren für zukünftige pandemische Ereignisse” on March 19, 2026, at the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus in Berlin. The session was open to the public and broadcast live. Dr. Sterz was invited as an external expert by the AfD parliamentary group. Other attendees included former Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach, former Robert Koch Institute President Lothar Wieler, and additional experts in infectious diseases and health policy.

3. Dr. Sterz’s Estimate of Vaccine-Related Deaths
Dr. Sterz stated that between 20,000 and 60,000 deaths in Germany could be attributed to COVID-19 vaccination. He based this estimate on the number of deaths reported to the PEI in temporal association with vaccination—approximately 2,000 to 3,300 cases as of late 2024. Applying an underreporting factor of 30, which he referenced from U.S. pharmacovigilance practices, he extrapolated the higher estimate of 60,000 deaths. He cited the possibility of a lower bound of 20,000 deaths depending on the underreporting factor used.

4. Methodology and Use of PEI Data
Dr. Sterz’s methodology involved multiplying the number of deaths reported to the PEI by an underreporting factor to account for cases not captured by passive surveillance systems. He referenced international practices, particularly the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, where similar multipliers are sometimes applied. The PEI’s official figures, as cited by Dr. Sterz, indicated between 3,086 and 3,315 deaths reported in temporal association with COVID-19 vaccination in Germany by the end of 2024.

5. Concerns About Vaccine Safety Studies
Dr. Sterz expressed concern that the expedited approval process for mRNA vaccines resulted in the omission or inadequate performance of certain safety studies, including those on carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity. He stated that no long-term carcinogenicity studies were conducted prior to approval and that reproductive toxicity studies in rats were insufficient to reliably assess risks to pregnancy and fetal development. 

6. Batch Differences and Residual Bacterial DNA
He highlighted differences between the vaccine batches used in clinical trials and those produced for mass distribution, noting that the latter were manufactured using Escherichia coli, which he claimed resulted in residual bacterial DNA in the final product. Dr. Sterz suggested that this could have implications for cancer risk and called for further investigation into the potential effects of DNA impurities.

7. Call for Moratorium and Further Research
Dr. Sterz concluded his testimony by calling for an immediate moratorium on the use of mRNA vaccine technology. He advocated for long-term, independent research into the effects of the vaccines and the broader pandemic response, emphasizing the need for greater transparency and comprehensive safety evaluation.

Conclusion
Dr. Helmut Sterz’s testimony before the Bundestag’s Enquete-Kommission presented a detailed critique of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Germany, including an estimate of 20,000 to 60,000 vaccine-related deaths based on PEI data and underreporting assumptions. His statements focused on methodological concerns, the need for additional safety studies, and the call for a moratorium on mRNA vaccines. The hearing formed part of a broader parliamentary review of Germany’s pandemic response.