A recent Korean study claiming that Covid vaccines may increase the risk of certain cancers has reignited heated debate in the scientific community.
The research suggested elevated risks for six types of cancer, including lung, breast, prostate, thyroid, gastric, and colorectal cancers, with older adults appearing most vulnerable.
However, experts quickly dismissed the study, calling its conclusions “superficially alarming” and pointing out serious methodological gaps.
Researchers Report Increased Cancer Risk Without Clear Explanation
The study, published in Biomarker Research by Springer Nature, analyzed the health records of more than 8.4 million adults between 2021 and 2023.
Participants were divided based on whether they received at least one Covid vaccine, including boosters.
The authors claimed that vaccinated individuals faced a 35% higher risk of thyroid cancer, 34% for gastric cancer, 53% for lung cancer, and 68% for prostate cancer.
Breast and colorectal cancers were reportedly elevated by 20% and 28%, respectively.
Despite these alarming numbers, the study did not provide a biological explanation for how the vaccines could trigger these cancers.
Experts Criticize the Study as Misleading
Cancer specialists and epidemiologists have pushed back hard against these findings.
Dr. Benjamin Mazer, an assistant professor of pathology at Johns Hopkins University, explained:
“No carcinogen can cause cancer this quickly. Mutations and tumor growth take time. What the study measures is cancer diagnosis, not development.
Real-world data in Korea shows no increase in the six cancers flagged, which directly contradicts these results.”
Cancer Research UK also emphasized that there is no credible evidence linking Covid vaccines to cancer and highlighted that mRNA technology is even being explored as a potential tool to prevent cancers such as lung and ovarian cancer.
Controversial Political Statements Add to the Debate
This study comes amid ongoing controversy fueled by Reform UK events.
Cardiologist Aseem Malhotra, advisor to US health secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., claimed Covid vaccines were linked to cancers in the King and Princess of Wales.
His claims drew swift criticism, with Professor Brian Ferguson of Cambridge University labeling them pseudoscience and the Health Secretary Wes Streeting calling the statements “shockingly irresponsible.”
Reform UK clarified that it does not endorse his views but defended his right to speak.
Historical Context of Controversial Covid Studies
This is not the first time Springer Nature has faced scrutiny for publishing contentious Covid-related research.
In 2023, the publisher retracted a study falsely claiming Covid vaccines had caused 280,000 deaths in the US, a paper that had been widely cited by anti-vaccine groups.
Experts warn that studies like these can spread misinformation rapidly, especially when amplified by political agendas.
Bottom Line for the Public
While Covid vaccines have documented side effects, particularly affecting the heart in rare cases, there is no verified evidence linking them to cancer.
Scientists continue to stress the importance of evaluating vaccine safety based on robust, peer-reviewed data.
For now, claims connecting vaccines to cancer remain speculative and unsupported by credible medical research.