The “Physicians and Scientists for Health, Freedom and Democracy” (MWGFD) draw attention to the fact that a broadcast of the NDR magazine “Panorama” on February 26, 2026, entitled “How Anti-Vaccination Sabotages Mandatory Vaccination,” spread numerous falsehoods about measles and the resulting necessity of vaccination. Their working group “Measles Protection Act” responds to this in an open letter below. (hl)
Published on March 4, 2026 by the editorial team
In a broadcast of the magazine Panorama, numerous falsehoods about measles and the resulting need for vaccination were spread.
It is already shameful for the authors of the article that the supposed information about measles comes from a pediatrician from Vilsbiburg, who clearly has no practical experience with measles, and from Jens Spahn, a trained banker. The conflicts of interest of both men were not mentioned. Jens Spahn is a long-time pharmaceutical lobbyist. Dr. Hartig, as a pediatrician, generates a considerable portion of his income from vaccinations.
The fact is that measles is a childhood disease that has been known for at least 1,000 years. Until the 1960s, when a vaccine was developed in the USA, no one saw a need for preventative measures against measles. Even in the first 250 years of vaccination history, measles vaccination was never a focus for vaccine developers. Professor Henneberg, former president of the Robert Koch Institute and vice president of the then Federal Health Office, commented in 1962, when there were still a few deaths from measles, as follows:
“Vaccination against measles is currently not advisable, also because measles only becomes dangerous in rare cases that can be treated therapeutically. Mass prophylaxis is therefore not justified.” [1]
Later, in 1968, Professor Henneberg, by then the head of the Federal Health Office, also determined, with far higher case numbers than today, that there was no need for vaccination. [2]
Why should there be a need for this now, given that the incidence rate is only a fraction of the previous number of cases and no increase in severe cases has been observed? On the contrary: while there were approximately 150 deaths in the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1960s, there is now only one questionable death every 10 years. A causal link with the fatal brain inflammation SSPE remains dubious speculation to this day. The only study on the subject provides no evidence, but rather suggests the opposite. [3] The connection presented as certain by Dr. Hartig is factually incorrect and spreads unnecessary panic.
The authors of this article should take note of the following established facts:
- Even vaccine lobbyists have to admit that only a naturally contracted measles infection provides lifelong immunity.
- For at least 32 chronic diseases, a reduced disease burden has been documented later in life if someone has naturally gone through measles as a child.
- Today, disease outbreaks mostly affect vaccinated people in about one-third of cases.
- Fatal cases have so far only been documented in vaccinated and treated individuals, but not in spontaneous cases.
- By the time a relevant vaccination rate was achieved in the Federal Republic of Germany from 1980 onwards, the number of deaths had already decreased by more than 99% compared to 1960.
- In 1964, a mass vaccination campaign was launched in the USA with the goal of “eradicating” measles. Despite repeated campaigns, measles has not disappeared there to this day.
- To date, there is not a single study on the safety of measles vaccines that compares them to a control group of children who received a true placebo (saline solution). [4]
- In fact, American statistics show that deaths following measles vaccinations are 16 times higher than deaths from measles itself. [5]
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) also occurred in 97 percent of all cases within 10 days of vaccination (including vaccinations other than the MMR vaccine) of the infant. [6]
Given this background, how can you promote measles vaccination?
The working group “Measles Protection Act” of the MWGFD eV
Beate Bahner, Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, Prof. Dr. Paul Cullen, Andreas Diemer, Dr. Hans-Michael Hackenberg, Dr. Claus Köhnlein, Dr. Gerd Reuther, Prof. DDr. Christian Schubert, Prof (aD) Dr. Andreas Sönnichsen, Hans Tolzin, Dr. Ronald Weikl, Dr. Wolfgang Wodarg
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[1] Federal Health Bulletin No. 4/1962, pp. 55-58
[2] Henneberg G: Measles vaccination. Expert opinion of the Federal Health Office as of October 1968. Springer; Berlin/Heidelberg/New York 1969
[3] Schönberger K et al. Epidemiology of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) in Germany from 2003 to 2009: A Risk Estimation. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68909; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068909
[4] Bahner, Measles vaccination and the Measles Protection Act: Between law and medicine, reason and myth, p. 67 ff.
[5] As above, p. 82 ff.
[6] As above, p. 212 ff.
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Source:
https://www.mwgfd.org/2026/03/offener-brief-zur-propaganda-der-panorama-sender-des-ndr/
