Thuringia's Covid advisers AUF1 questions adviser ties

Date unknown

AUF1 questions possible conflicts of interest among members of Bodo Ramelow's former scientific Covid advisory council. It cites a published 2020 disclosure by Mathias Pletz listing Pfizer research support and speaking fees from Pfizer, MSD and other pharmaceutical companies. It also describes Cornelia Betsch's simultaneous leadership of the COSMO pandemic-perception study and funding from Thuringia's economic ministry and State Chancellery among other funders. The report connects those ties to the government's recent acknowledgment that it had not formally asked about potential conflicts before appointing advisers. Financial relationships and the presenter's questions are distinguished from proof of improper advice or decisions.

AUF1 reports the Thuringian government's recent acknowledgment that potential conflicts were not formally queried before appointing scientific Covid advisers. It illustrates the resulting questions with Mathias Pletz's published 2020 disclosure of pharmaceutical research support and speaking fees and Cornelia Betsch's state-supported COSMO study. These financial relationships and questions do not establish improper recommendations or a governmental finding of actual conflicts.