The Unbelievable Story of a Man Who Received 217 Covid Vaccine Shots
Discover the astonishing tale of a 62-year-old man from Germany who defied norms by receiving 217 Covid-19 vaccine shots over 29 months. This unconventional decision, documented in a recent study, saw him receiving an average of one jab every four days, challenging national vaccination guidelines.
One man from Germany has taken the idea of being "on a mission" to a whole new level. A recent study revealed that a 62-year-old man from Magdeburg decided to receive a total of 217 Covid-19 vaccine shots within just 29 months. This goes against the vaccine guidelines set by the country. To put it into perspective, he was getting vaccinated approximately every four days.
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA - AUGUST 07: Lisa Taylor receives a COVID-19 vaccination from RN Jose Muniz as she takes part in a vaccine study at Research Centers of America on August 07, 2020 in Hollywood, Florida. Research Centers of America is currently conducting COVID-19 vaccine trials, implemented under the federal government's Operation Warp Speed program. The center is recruiting volunteers to participate in the clinical trials, working with the Federal Government and major Pharmaceutical Companies, that are racing to develop a vaccine to potentially prevent COVID-19. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Lisa Taylor received a COVID-19 vaccination from RN Jose Muniz at Research Centers of America in Hollywood, Florida on August 07, 2020. The center is currently conducting COVID-19 vaccine trials as part of the federal government's Operation Warp Speed program. They are recruiting volunteers to participate in the clinical trials, collaborating with the Federal Government and major Pharmaceutical Companies in the race to develop a vaccine to potentially prevent COVID-19.
Related article
CDC recommends seniors get another Covid-19 shot
In the process, he served as a real-life test subject to see how the immune system reacts to repeated vaccinations against the same pathogen. A recent article in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases detailed his experience and concluded that although his excessive vaccination did not harm his health, it also did not notably enhance or weaken his immune response.
The individual, whose identity remains anonymous due to German privacy regulations, admitted to receiving a total of 217 Covid shots from June 2021 to November 2023. Out of these, 134 were officially verified by a prosecutor and vaccination center records, while the remaining 83 were self-reported, as per the study findings.
Dr. Emily Happy Miller, an assistant professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, described the case as highly unusual. She pointed out that the individual received an unusually high number of Covid vaccines, which goes against any recommended guidelines.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: A bottle of influenza vaccine at a CVS pharmacy and MinuteClinic on September 10, 2021 in Miami, Florida. CVS Health is offering the flu shots by appointment or walking in as health experts encourage people to get their flu shots in hopes of preventing a bad flu season. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
In Miami, Florida on September 10, a bottle of influenza vaccine is shown at a CVS pharmacy and MinuteClinic. CVS Health is currently providing flu shots by appointment or for walk-ins. Health experts are strongly recommending individuals to get their flu shots to help prevent a severe flu season.
Related article
The Covid-19 pandemic killed off one strain of the flu, and that will change the next vaccines
The man did not experience any side effects from the vaccine and has not tested positive for Covid between May 2022 and November 2023, based on antigen and PCR tests. It is important to note that it is uncertain whether his Covid-free status is solely due to his high number of vaccine doses.
According to Miller, one possibility is that the man did not contract Covid because he had strong protection from the initial three vaccine doses. Additionally, there is limited information available about his daily habits and behaviors that could also play a role in his Covid status.
Dr. Kilian Schober, a researcher at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg and senior author of the study, emphasized that the findings should be viewed as specific to this particular case and may not apply to everyone.
Additionally, the researchers made it clear that they do not support the idea of hypervaccination as a way to boost immunity.
“The benefit is not much bigger if you get vaccinated three times or 200 times,” Schober said.
Raising suspicions
According to his immunization history, the man got his first Covid vaccine in June 2021. He got 16 shots that year at centers across the eastern state of Saxony.
A sign advertises COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine shots at a Walgreens Pharmacy in Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S., August 14, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
A sign advertises COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine shots at a Walgreens Pharmacy in Somerville, Massachusetts, U.S., August 14, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Related article
Latest Covid-19 vaccine offers strong protection against symptomatic infection, including from JN.1, early CDC data shows
In 2022, he increased his efforts by getting vaccinated almost every day in January. He received a total of 48 shots, alternating between his right and left arms.
Continuing his commitment, he got 34 shots in February and six more in March. The staff at the German Red Cross in Dresden grew wary and warned other vaccination centers to alert the police if they spotted the man again. This report was shared by CNN affiliate RTL in April 2022.
In early March, he was found at a vaccination center in Eilenburg and taken into custody by the police. It was believed that he was selling vaccination cards to others, as reported by RTL. This incident occurred when several European countries were demanding proof of vaccination for entry into public places and travel.
The public prosecutor in Magdeburg launched a probe into the man for allegedly distributing vaccination cards illegally and forging documents. However, no criminal charges were ultimately filed, as per the investigation findings.
Effects of hypervaccination
The researchers read about the man in the news and reached out to him through the prosecutor investigating his case in May 2022. By this point, he was 213 shots in.
exp covid vaccine conspiracy theories brunhuber downs intv 123105ASEG1 cnni health _00015723.png
exp covid vaccine conspiracy theories brunhuber downs intv 123105ASEG1 cnni health _00015723.png
video
Related video
Covid is still a concern, and so are conspiracy theories about vaccination. He agreed to share medical information and provide blood and saliva samples. Despite medical advice, he went on to receive four additional Covid shots, as mentioned by Schober.
The researchers examined his blood chemistries for any signs of issues related to his hypervaccination. They also assessed different markers to determine the effectiveness of his adaptive immune system, as stated in the study.
According to Miller, the adaptive immune system is a part of the immune system that learns to identify and combat specific pathogens as you come into contact with them over time. T cells and B cells are the two primary cell types in the adaptive immune system.
In chronic diseases like HIV and hepatitis B, immune cells can get tired from constantly fighting the pathogen and may not be as effective. Schober mentioned that hypervaccination could potentially have a similar impact.
A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia September 30, 2014.
A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia September 30, 2014.
Tami Chappell/Reuters
Related article
CDC drops 5-day isolation guidance for Covid-19, moving away from key strategy to quell infections
The researchers actually found that hypervaccination increased the quantity of T cells and B cell products, but it did not impact the quality of the adaptive immune system, as stated in the study.
In simpler terms, think of the immune system like an army. With hypervaccination, the number of soldiers increases, but the soldiers themselves remain the same, explained Schober.
The man received a total of eight different vaccine formulations. These included mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, a vector-based vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, and a recombinant-protein vaccine from Sanofi.
According to Schober, there were no noticeable side effects despite receiving so many vaccines. This suggests that the vaccines are well-tolerated.
Individual case studies like this one may be fascinating from a scientific point of view, but it's important to approach them with caution, according to Miller. She emphasized that when it comes to guidance, it's best to rely on public health recommendations, which are derived from extensive, large-scale randomized control trials.
Sign up for CNN Health's weekly newsletter to stay updated on the latest health news and tips.
Sign up here to receive The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.
Miller expressed concern about the actions of the individual, stating that no physician or public health official would advise such behavior. He emphasized the importance of consulting with a doctor and adhering to recommended vaccine schedules to stay protected from Covid and maintain overall health and safety.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that all individuals aged 6 months and above in the United States should receive the Covid vaccine according to the schedules provided on their website. Recently, the CDC also suggested that individuals aged 65 and older should get an extra dose of the current Covid vaccine.
According to CDC data, less than 25% of adults and only 13% of children in the US have received the latest recommended Covid vaccine.
Editor's P/S:
The article presents a fascinating but somewhat concerning case study of a German man who received an astonishing 217 COVID-19 vaccine shots within a short span. While it is intriguing to learn about the immune response and tolerance levels of a human subject, it is equally alarming to witness such reckless and excessive behavior that defies medical guidelines.
As highlighted by medical experts, this extreme hypervaccination does not offer any significant benefits in terms of enhanced immunity and could potentially raise questions about the long-term effects on an individual's health. It is crucial to emphasize that public health recommendations are based on extensive research and clinical trials, and any deviation from these guidelines should be strongly discouraged. While individual experiences may provide valuable insights, they should not override the established protocols and advice from reputable health organizations.
