The German government has issued a firm and public rebuttal to claims made by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, regarding the alleged prosecution of doctors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A Strong Denial from Berlin
In a strongly worded statement released late on Saturday, Germany's Health Minister, Nina Warken, categorically rejected Kennedy's assertions. "The statements made by the US secretary of health are completely unfounded, factually incorrect, and must be rejected," Warken declared. The rebuke came after Kennedy, a long-time vaccine sceptic, posted a video on the social media platform X.
In his video, Kennedy claimed he had written to Minister Warken – whose name he misspelled as 'Workin' – calling for an end to what he termed "politically motivated prosecutions". He alleged that "more than a thousand German physicians and thousands of their patients now face prosecution and punishment" for issuing exemptions from mask mandates or Covid-19 vaccinations.
Examining the Claims and the Facts
Kennedy provided no specific evidence or sources to support his allegations. He argued that the German government was violating the doctor-patient relationship and turning medical professionals into "enforcers of state policies". He urged Germany to "restore medical autonomy" and correct its trajectory.
Minister Warken's response was unequivocal. She clarified that during the pandemic, there was "never any obligation on the medical profession to administer Covid-19 vaccinations". She stated that criminal prosecution was only ever pursued in clear cases of fraud or document forgery. "Anyone who did not want to offer vaccinations for medical, ethical, or personal reasons was not liable to prosecution [or] sanctions," Warken emphasised, adding that patient choice over therapy is a fundamental principle in Germany.
Political Fallout and Wider Context
The controversy also drew a sharp response from Karl Lauterbach, who served as Germany's health minister during the pandemic. Lauterbach suggested Kennedy should focus on domestic American health issues, such as life expectancy and healthcare costs. "In Germany, doctors are not punished by the government for issuing false medical certificates. In our country, the courts are independent," Lauterbach wrote.
This incident highlights the ongoing global debate around pandemic measures and vaccine policies. Kennedy, who has previously promoted conspiracy theories and been accused of spreading vaccine misinformation, has placed the issue of medical freedom at the centre of his political agenda within the Trump administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative. The German government's swift and detailed rejection underscores its commitment to countering what it views as misinformation regarding its legal and public health framework.
