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The RKI Files are a series of internal documents, primarily meeting minutes, from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) COVID-19 crisis management team. A first batch of documents, spanning from January 2020 and April 2021, were released in heavily redacted form in March 2024 by the RKI following a Freedom of Information [de] request by journalist Paul Schreyer [de]. In July 2024, journalist Aya Velázquez released the fully unredacted documents from 2020 to 2023, which were leaked to her by a whistleblower at the RKI. Velázquez later released a batch of private email correspondence of the RKI. The documents detail the deliberations of the RKI team in charge of the crisis response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. The revealed documents sparked an ongoing controversy in Germany, where critics question the political influence on the RKI, and the extent to which measures against COVID-19 followed scientific evidence or political criteria.

Background

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Main articles: COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and German government response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic in Germany has resulted in 38,437,756[1] confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 174,979[1] deaths. During the pandemic, the German government received advice from several scientific bodies. They also collaborated on occasion: following a request by health minister Jens Spahn,[2] the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and the German Ethics Council produced recommendations on 9 November 2020 with criteria for how to prioritize the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.[3][4]

Publication

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In May 2021, Paul Schreyer [de], journalist and founder of Multipolar [de], filed a Freedom of Information Act [de] request for the release of all minutes of the Robert Koch Institute COVID-19 crisis team. The RKI released the minutes between January 2020 and April 2021. The released documents were heavily redacted, and Schreyer initiated a challenge of the redactions in Court.[5][6] In May 2024, these documents were published on the RKI website in a less redacted edition.[6] Multipolar filed a request for the release of documents since May 2021, which were not included in the releases so far.[7]

On 23 July 2024, Berlinese journalist Aya Velázquez published a 10GB cache of internal RKI documents. The collection includes fully unredacted RKI crisis team meeting minutes from 2020 to 2023. According to Velázquez, the source of the documents was a RKI employee. The documents were presented in a press conference streamed on X,[8] and it was coordinated with other journalists, such as Philippe Debionne from the Schwäbische Zeitung, who had prior access to the material.[9]

TBD: 30 July 2024, further leak on private RKI correspondence.

On 7 August 2024, the RKI published a note condemning the "illegal publication" of the RKI documents, and recommending that those affected by the lack of redaction of the documents contact the RKI delegate for data protection.[10]

Contents

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The documents cover deliberations of the COVID-19 crisis team at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) about a wide range of topics related to the German government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those highlighted by German media are vaccination policies, lockdowns and mask mandates.[9]

TBD: Policies towards kids and schools.[11]

TBD: On vaccine mandates, Frauke Rostalski [de].[12]

Impfen und Testen in Greiz sehr akzeptabel, im Saale-Orla-Kreis nicht, hier Ausbrüche in Alten- und Pflegeheimen. Bewohnende wegen Verweigerung nur zu 50% geimpft, überraschende Gegenwehr aus Bevölkerung.
TBD: Vaccination and testing are very acceptable in Greiz, but not in the Saale-Orla district, where there are outbreaks in old people's and nursing homes. Only 50% of residents vaccinated due to refusal, surprising resistance from the population.

—RKI minutes, 7 May 2021[9]

Normalerweise plant man 12-18 Monate ab Beginn Phase I. EMA und Pfizer überlegen, ob sie ggf. die Phase III Studien auslassen und direkt in eine breite Anwendung gehen, wenn das von den Regulatoren so entschieden wird, dann kann es schneller gehen als 12-18 Monate.
TBD: Normally, one plans for 12-18 months from the start of Phase I. EMA and Pfizer are considering whether to skip Phase III trials and go straight into widespread use; if the regulators decide that, then it can go faster than 12-18 months.

—RKI minutes, 15 April 2020[9]

Textentwurf Christian Drosten: Empfehlung für den Herbst, Darstellung der Ideen und Einschätzung (Folien hier). Kontext: Der Artikel ist vertraulich. Hr. Drosten hat zwischenzeitlich entschieden, das Papier nicht zu publizieren, da ungezielte Testung im Text als nicht sinnvoll betrachtet wird und dies dem Regierungshandeln widerspricht.
TBD: Draft text by Christian Drosten: Recommendation for the autumn, presentation of ideas and assessment (slides here). Context: The article is confidential. Mr. Drosten has since decided not to publish the paper because the text does not consider untargeted testing to be sensible and this contradicts government action.

—RKI minutes, 29 July 2020[9]

Impfung von Kindern: Auch wenn (von) STIKO die Impfung für Kinder nicht empfohlen wird, BM Spahn plant trotzdem ein Impfprogramm.
TBD: Vaccination of children: Even though vaccination for children is not recommended by STIKO, BM Spahn is nevertheless planning a vaccination program.

—RKI minutes, 19 May 2021[9]

Es gibt keine Anzeichen, dass Impfungen an Ausscheidungen etwas ändern. (…) Die fachlichen Empfehlungen werden beibehalten, solange es keine anderslautende Anweisung vom BMG gibt.
TBD: There is no evidence that vaccinations make any difference to excretions. (...) The technical recommendations will be maintained as long as there are no instructions to the contrary from the BMG.

—RKI minutes, 12 October 2022[9]

Pädiatrische Fachverbände stehen der Impfung von Kindern zurückhaltend gegenüber. Politik bereitet bereits Impfaktionen vor, damit die entsprechenden Jahrgänge zum Ferienende geimpft sind. Frage der Equity - in vielen Regionen der Welt fehlen Impfstoffe, hier werden Gruppen ohne/mit sehr geringem Risiko geimpft.
TBD: Pediatric associations are reluctant to vaccinate children. Politicians are already preparing vaccination campaigns so that the relevant age groups are vaccinated by the end of the vacations. Question of equity - in many regions of the world there is a lack of vaccines, here groups without/with very low risk are vaccinated.

—RKI minutes, 21 May 2021[9]

Zurzeit ist auch eine Booster-Impfung von Kindern aus ministerieller Seite angedacht, obwohl dazu keine Empfehlung und teils keine Zulassung besteht.
TBD: The ministry is currently considering booster vaccinations for children, although there is no recommendation and in some cases no approval for this.

—RKI minutes, 15 December 2021[9]

Sofern es ausreichend Evidenz gibt, z.B. empfiehlt die American Academy of Peds das generelle Maskentragen ab 2J (Face Masks (aap.org), sollte hier eine verschärftere Formulierung gefunden werden. (…) Das Tragen von Masken sollte auch bei niedrigen Inzidenzen ohne Einschränkung beibehalten werden und als Beibehaltung von Basismaßnahmen verstanden werden. Daher bitte Formulierung ‚nachschärfen‛.
TBD: If there is sufficient evidence, e.g. the American Academy of Peds recommends the general wearing of masks from the age of 2 (Face Masks (aap.org), a stricter wording should be found here. (…) The wearing of masks should be maintained without restriction even at low incidences and should be understood as the maintenance of basic measures. Therefore, please ‘sharpen’ the wording.

—RKI minutes, 2 July 2021[9]

Die Testung sollte in eine bestimmte Richtung gelenkt werden. Wie kann dem politischen Wunsch nach verstärkter Testung entgegengekommen werden?
TBD: Testing should be steered in a certain direction. How can the political desire for increased testing be met?

—RKI minutes, 29 June 2020[9]

Zielgruppenspezifische Kommunikation. Wer sollte insbesondere adressiert werden? Primär junge Menschen, diese verhalten sich anders. Es muss cool sein, sich impfen zu lassen.
TBD: Target group-specific communication. Who should be addressed in particular? Primarily young people, who behave differently. It must be cool to get vaccinated.

—RKI minutes, 14 July 2021[9]

Zielgruppe jüngere Menschen & Impfung: Z.B. Influencer-Vaccination Challenge auf YouTube (…) Viele Aspekte des Themas könnten mit mehr Humor angegangen werden (z.B. Angst vor Impfnachwirkung thematisieren). Z.B. hat elhotzo bei seiner Impfung seine Impfreaktion thematisiert.
TBD: Target group younger people & vaccination: e.g. Influencer Vaccination Challenge on YouTube (...) Many aspects of the topic could be approached with more humor (e.g. address fear of vaccination after-effects). E.g. elhotzo addressed his vaccination reaction during his vaccination.

—RKI minutes, 14 July 2021[9]

BMG möchte vermutlich Ausnahmen für Geboosterte für 3 Monate. Geimpfte müssen irgendwelche Privilegien erhalten, dies muss in Einreiseregelung enthalten sein.
TBD: BMG probably wants exceptions for boosted people for 3 months. Vaccinated people must receive some kind of privileges, this must be included in the entry regulations.

—RKI minutes, 7 January 2022[9]

Die STIKO- Empfehlung ist nicht immunologisch begründet, sondern dient dem Einsparen von Impfstoff.
TBD: The STIKO recommendation is not based on immunological reasons, but serves to save vaccine.

—RKI minutes, 10 May 2021[9]

Am Donnerstag erfolgte vor Veröffentlichung der Aktualisierung des Kontaktnachverfolgungsmanagement- Papiers eine ministerielle Weisung zur Ergänzung. (…) Eine derartige Einflussnahme seitens des BMG in RKI-Dokumente ist ungewöhnlich. Die Weisungsbefugnis des Ministers bei technischen Dokumenten des RKI wird derzeit von L1 rechtlich geprüft. Aktuelle Einschätzung der RKI-Leitung ist, dass die Empfehlungen durch das RKI in der Rolle einer Bundesbehörde ausgesprochen werden, und einer ministeriellen Weisung zur Ergänzung dieser Empfehlung nachgekommen werden muss, da das BMG die Fachaufsicht über das RKI hat und sich als Institut nicht auf Freiheit der Wissenschaft berufen kann. Die wissenschaftliche Unabhängigkeit des RKI von der Politik ist insofern eingeschränkt.
TBD: On Thursday, before the update of the contact tracing management paper was published, a ministerial directive was issued to supplement it. (...) Such influence by the BMG in RKI documents is unusual. The minister's authority to issue instructions on technical documents of the RKI is currently being legally reviewed by L1. The current assessment of the RKI management is that the recommendations are made by the RKI in the role of a federal authority and that a ministerial directive to supplement this recommendation must be complied with, since the BMG has technical supervision over the RKI and, as an institute, cannot invoke freedom of science. The scientific independence of the RKI from politics is therefore limited.

—RKI minutes, 10 September 2021[9]

"Pandemic of the unvaccinated"

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On 3 November 2021, Ministry of Health Jens Spahn (CDU), stated that Germany was facing a massive "pandemic of the unvaccinated."[13][14][15] RKI minutes of 5 November stated that the "pandemic of the unvaccinated" terminology was technically incorrect, but that it would probably be not possible to correct it because Spahn used it very frequently.[14][16][15]

In den Medien wird von einer Pandemie der Ungeimpften gesprochen. Aus fachlicher Sicht nicht korrekt. Gesamtbevölkerung trägt bei. Soll das in Kommunikation aufgegriffen werden? [...] Dient als Appell an alle, die nicht geimpft sind, sich impfen zu lassen. Sagt Minister bei jeder Pressekonferenz, vermutlich bewusst, kann eher nicht korrigiert werden.
TBD: The media is talking about a pandemic of the unvaccinated. From a technical point of view, this is not correct. The entire population is contributing. Should this be addressed in communication? [...] It serves as an appeal to all those who are not vaccinated to get vaccinated. Ministers say this at every press conference, probably deliberately, and it is unlikely to be corrected.

—RKI minutes, 5 November 2021, page 8[14]

The Schwäbische Zeitung highlighted this passage, noting how this narrative was quickly adopted by other politicians and journalists, and that this would later be used to justify restrictive measures targeted at unvaccinated people.[14] The Berliner Zeitung also covered this story, and claimed those who were mistreated for not getting a vaccine, and those who got coerced into getting it, have the right to information on this.[16] The Berliner Morgenpost considered that while the sentence was a simplification, it was still roughly correct.[17] Der Spiegel put forward multiple interpretations for the "pandemic of the unvaccinated", justifying its use at the time, and noting its previous usage by the United States CDC and Joe Biden.[15]

On 10 August 2024, Andreas Gassen [de], president of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, criticized the stigmatization of unvaccinated people and called for an investigation committee.[18]

On 22 August 2024, Frauke Rostalski [de], a member of the German Ethics Council, told Die Zeit that the RKI files demonstrated that the Government took decisions related to the right to freedom that were based on evidence that was known to be outdated.[12]

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On 3 September 2024, in a legal action by a nursing assistant who was banned from entry to her workplace in 2022 due to failure to provide a vaccination proof, the Third Chamber of the Osnabrück Administrative Court submitted the case to the Federal Constitutional Court based on the revelations of the RKI minutes.[19][20][21]

Reactions

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There have been calls for the resignation of Karl Lauterbach by Wolfgang Kubicki, deputy of the Free Democratic Party and Vice President of the Bundestag,[22] Burkhard Ewert [de] of the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung.[23]

On 21 August 2024, the ombudsman of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation stated that the Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen should have covered the RKI documents controversy in March 2024.[24]

The media regulator of North Rhine-Westphalia initiated administrative action against Multipolar.[25]

TBD: Sahra Wagenknecht declarations (1 September 2024).

References

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  1. ^ a b Mathieu, Edouard; Ritchie, Hannah; Rodés-Guirao, Lucas; Appel, Cameron; Giattino, Charlie; Hasell, Joe; Macdonald, Bobbie; Dattani, Saloni; Beltekian, Diana; Ortiz-Ospina, Esteban; Roser, Max (2020–2024). "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Our World in Data. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  2. ^ Schwedt, Anne (19 September 2020). "Jens Spahn will Impfstoffverteilung bis Ende Oktober regeln" [Jens Spahn wants to regulate vaccine distribution by the end of October]. Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  3. ^ Schöps, Corinna (9 November 2020). "Die mit dem höchsten Risiko zuerst" [Those with the highest risk to be first]. Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  4. ^ Groll, Tina (9 November 2020). "Medizinisches Personal und Risikogruppen sollen zuerst geimpft werden" [Medical personnel and risk groups to be vaccinated first]. Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ Berndt, Christina; Grill, Markus; Heck, Jana; Kampf, Lena; Ludwig, Kristiana (29 March 2024). "Coronapolitik: Hang zur Selbstzensur" [Corona policy: tendency towards self-censorship]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 30 March 2024.
  6. ^ a b Maier, Michael. "Lauterbach zu RKI-Protokollen: „Zu verbergen gibt es trotzdem nichts"" [Lauterbach on RKI protocols: “There is still nothing to hide”]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 24 July 2024.
  7. ^ Metzger, Nils (28 March 2024). "RKI-Protokolle: Schwarze Stellen ade?" [RKI protocols: goodbye black spots?]. ZDFheute (in German). Archived from the original on 9 April 2024.
  8. ^ Schneeberger, Ruth (23 July 2024). "Das wird Lauterbach nicht gefallen: RKI-Files komplett entschwärzt veröffentlicht" [Lauterbach won’t like this: RKI files published completely redacted]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 23 July 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Debionne, Philippe (24 July 2024). "Corona: Was die Regierung vor den Deutschen verheimlichte" [Corona: What the government hid from the Germans]. Schwäbische Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 23 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Benachrichtigung der von einer Verletzung des Schutzes personenbezogener Daten betroffenen Personen nach Art. 34 Abs. 3 lit. c) Datenschutz-Grundverordnung: Rechtswidrige Veröffentlichung der RKI-Krisenstabsprotokolle sowie weiterer Dokumente (07.08.2024)". Robert Koch Institute. 7 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024.
  11. ^ Kröning, Anna (22 August 2024). "Drei Tage vor dem ersten Lockdown änderte das RKI plötzlich seinen Standpunkt" [Three days before the first lockdown, the RKI suddenly changed its position]. Die Welt (in German). Archived from the original on 31 August 2024.
  12. ^ a b Anderl, Sibylle; Wefing, Heinrich. ""Eine Impfung ist nicht nur ein Pieks"" [“A vaccination is not just a jab”]. Die Zeit (in German). Archived from the original on 5 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Coronavirus-Pandemie: Was geschah wann?" [Coronavirus pandemic: What happened when?]. Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (in German). Archived from the original on 24 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d Debionne, Philippe (24 July 2024). "Corona: Das Märchen von der "Pandemie der Ungeimpften"" [Corona: The fairy tale of the "pandemic of the unvaccinated"]. Schwäbische Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 2 August 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Aé, Julian; Bonnen, Christopher; Hassenkamp, Milena; Merlot, Julia; Schlak, Martin (24 July 2024). "Worum es in der Diskussion über die »Pandemie der Ungeimpften« geht" [What the discussion about the "pandemic of the unvaccinated" is about]. Der Spiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 24 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b Schneeberger, Ruth (13 August 2024). "RKI-Files: Wer übernimmt jetzt die Verantwortung?" [RKI Files: Who takes responsibility now?]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 14 August 2024.
  17. ^ Bünte, Ben (24 July 2024). "RKI-Protokolle: Der Satz, den Spahn besser nicht gesagt hätte". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Archived from the original on 11 August 2024.
  18. ^ "KBV-Chef beklagt Stigmatisierung von Ungeimpften" [KBV chief complains about stigmatization of unvaccinated people]. n-tv (in German). 10 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Verwaltungsgericht Osnabrück legt Bundesverfassungsgericht Entscheidung über einrichtungs- und unternehmensbezogene Nachweispflicht vor". Osnabrück Administrative Court (in German). 3 September 2024. Archived from the original on 5 September 2024.
  20. ^ Schwager, Christian (3 September 2024). "Höchstgericht soll entscheiden: Verletzte die einrichtungsbezogene Impfpflicht Grundrechte?" [Supreme Court to decide: Did the facility-based vaccination requirement violate fundamental rights?]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 3 September 2024.
  21. ^ Schwager, Christian (4 September 2024). "Einrichtungsbezogene Impfpflicht: Deshalb hält sie ein Gericht für verfassungswidrig" [Facility-based vaccination requirement: This is why a court considers it unconstitutional]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 4 September 2024.
  22. ^ "RKI-Files: „Das ist schon irre"" [RKI files: “This is crazy”]. Cicero (in German). Archived from the original on 13 August 2024.
  23. ^ Ewert, Burkhard (16 August 2024). "Die RKI-Protokolle können nur eine Folge haben: Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Lauterbach!" [The RKI protocols can only have one consequence: Goodbye, Mr Lauterbach!]. Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 19 August 2024.
  24. ^ "SRF hätte über RKI-Protokolle berichten müssen" [SRF should have reported on RKI protocols]. SRG (in German). 21 August 2024. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024.
  25. ^ Schneeberger, Ruth (29 August 2024). "RKI-Protokolle: Warum die Medienaufsicht gegen Multipolar vorgeht" [RKI protocols: Why the media regulator is taking action against Multipolar]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 29 August 2024.
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See also

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