Index Entries

Jane Orient
Winter 2023
Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons

This guest editorial explains the 'plasmid DNA contamination theory' of harms caused by COVID-19 vaccines, and the author presents a "tentative critical appraisal" for each of the following foundational materials: 

"Causes for Skepticism about COVID-19 Vaccines

... After the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, it became obvious that this 'preventive measure' is causing more harm than prevention. Officials kept insisting that vaccines are safe and effective, even in the face of obvious failure. Consequently, numerous hypotheses have been proposed by vaccine skeptics to explain the reasons for various COVID-19 vaccine-associated harms. Those theories could be divided into two main categories: (1) theories that known, disclosed components caused adverse effects; and (2) ideas that the contamination of vaccines with various undisclosed elements was mostly to blame for adverse reactions...

The Novel Plasmid DNA Contamination Theory

An intriguing new concept of COVID-19 vaccine contamination emerged in early 2023. Described succinctly as 'the plasmid DNA contamination theory,' it is the antithesis of the previously mentioned sensational and uncanny rumors, which were developed and promoted by over-enthusiastic but frequently underqualified internet personalities. It is a reality-based hypothesis prompted by standard laboratory research performed by professional researchers. Three elements constitute the nidus around which the DNA contamination theory started to crystalize. Those were a preprint by McKernan et al., a preprint by Speicher et al. (with McKernan as last author), and testimony before the South Carolina Senate delivered by Dr. Philip Buckhaults.

Subsequently, findings and ideas contained in those original materials have been reviewed and expanded by numerous established vaccine skeptics. This theory is still evolving, but in its essence it propounds that: (1) the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines may contain larger than acceptably safe levels of plasmid DNA that are leftovers from the manufacturing process, and (2) those plasmid DNA contaminates may not be biologically inert as is claimed by the regulatory agencies and the vaccine manufacturers."

The author is a practicing general internist and serves as executive director of AAPs and managing editor of the Journal.

document
adverse events,COVID-19,vaccine composition,vaccine quality control,vaccines