Tech billionaire, Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk has reignited the global debate around COVID-19 vaccine safety after sharing a deeply personal account of his experience with both the virus and its vaccine. In a post on His comments, posted on April 12, 2026, came in response to testimony by former Pfizer toxicologist Dr. Helmut Sterz at a German parliamentary inquiry that discussed estimates of vaccine-related deaths. The post has since sparked a global conversation, with users sharing personal experiences while health officials reiterate established scientific findings on vaccine safety.

What did Elon Musk say about the COVID vaccine?

Musk resorted to X to draw a clear distinction between his COVID-19 infection and his vaccine experience.“The vaccine doses were clearly too high and given too frequently,” he wrote. “I had the original Wuhan virus before there was any vaccine and it was just like any other cold or flu. Bad, but not terrible. But my second vaccine almost sent me to the hospital. It felt like I was dying.”The post was a repost of content shared by Swedish journalist Peter Emanuelsson (@Petersweden7), who chronicled Dr. Helmut Sterz’s testimony before Germany’s Bundestag Corona Inquiry Commission. Musk’s comments immediately became one of the most discussed topics on the platform.

The German parliamentary testimony that started it all

At the center of the controversy is the appearance of Dr. Helmut Sterz before the Corona Inquiry Commission of the Bundestag on March 19, 2026, at the invitation of the AfD party. Sturges, a retired toxicologist who previously worked at pharmaceutical companies Roche and Pfizer, made several claims about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.They alleged that key preclinical safety studies were ignored during development and raised concerns about long-term effects. Most controversially, they applied a multiplier to Germany’s official figure of 2,133 deaths after vaccination reported to the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, arriving at a rough estimate of 20,000 to 60,000 vaccine-related deaths in Germany based on extrapolation rather than confirmed causal data.This data has not been independently verified or supported by public health officials and is a personal interpretation, not a scientific consensus.

Elon Musk’s complicated history with COVID vaccines

This is not the first time Musk has spoken out about COVID vaccines, and his position has evolved over time.In September 2020, he had said that he would not take the vaccine. Months later, after testing positive for COVID-19, he changed his stance. As of 2021, he has publicly stated that he supports vaccines in general and COVID vaccines in particular.He later received the Johnson & Johnson shot, which he tolerated well, but later reported a stronger response to the mRNA booster dose. In January 2023, he wrote that he experienced significant side effects from the booster shot and felt seriously unwell for several days. He also mentioned a relative who developed myocarditis after vaccination.

‘I am not anti-vaccine’, Musk’s subtle stance

Despite his criticism, Musk has consistently said he is not anti-vaccine. In an interview with Tucker Carlson in 2024, he acknowledged that vaccines have saved many lives and remain important in preventing the disease.He cited the polio and smallpox vaccines as major medical achievements. Their primary concern has been the mandates rather than the vaccines themselves.“My concern was more about the demand that people have to take the vaccine and multiple boosters to do anything,” he wrote. He also said that he would not fire employees who refuse vaccination.

What does the science really say?

Health officials have consistently said COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for most people. The World Health Organization has described these as an important tool in reducing severe disease and deaths during pandemics.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says myocarditis is a rare side effect of mRNA vaccines, which is usually mild and resolves without complications.Common side effects such as fatigue, fever, and soreness are expected immune responses and are usually short-lived. Musk did not specify his exact symptoms, making clinical interpretation difficult.The debate surrounding Musk’s comments reflects the broader tension in post-pandemic discourse between established scientific evidence and personal experiences. Although adverse events do occur, they remain rare compared to the overall benefits of vaccination in preventing serious disease.What is clear is that high-profile voices can significantly influence public perception. With Musk once again at the center of the conversation, the debate continues over vaccines, risks and personal choice.