Submitted by Livia Harriman on Mon, 08/09/2025 - 16:27
Professor Brian Ferguson has firmly rejected claims made at a Reform UK health conference suggesting Covid-19 vaccines could be linked to cancers in the royal family.
Dr Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and guest speaker at the “Make Britain Healthy Again” event in Birmingham, alleged that mRNA vaccines may have been a factor in the diagnoses of King Charles III and the Princess of Wales. His remarks have sparked outrage from health officials and experts, who say they are not backed by credible science.
“Outlandish Conspiracy Theory”
Professor Brian Ferguson, a leading viral immunologist at the University of Cambridge, condemned Malhotra’s assertions in the strongest terms.
“There is no credible evidence that these vaccines disrupt tumour suppressors or drive any kind of process that results in cancer,” he said. “Repeating such an outlandish conspiracy theory only serves to undermine the credibility of those spreading it.”
Ferguson also criticised the linking of vaccine safety to the personal health struggles of the royal family as “particularly crass,” pointing out that exploiting such sensitive cases fuels misinformation without any scientific basis.
The Disputed Claims
Malhotra’s speech included several controversial points. He suggested vaccines were more harmful than COVID-19 itself, claimed they could “alter genes,” and accused the World Health Organisation of being “captured” by Bill Gates. He also cited comments by oncologist Professor Angus Dalgleish as support for his theory.
But medical authorities — including the NHS — have been clear: Covid vaccines passed rigorous safety checks before approval, and the notion of vaccines driving “turbo cancers” has been dismissed by oncologists.
Political and Medical Backlash
Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the remarks “shockingly irresponsible,” warning that vaccine misinformation is contributing to a decline in childhood immunisations and the return of preventable diseases.
Stephen Kinnock, the health minister, described Malhotra as an “anti-vax conspiracy theorist,” while Reform UK insisted the cardiologist’s views were his own.
A party spokesperson said: “Dr Aseem Malhotra is a guest speaker with his own opinions. Reform UK does not endorse what he said but does believe in free speech.”
Why the Science Matters
For experts like Professor Ferguson, the central issue is not political free speech, but public trust in science. By giving airtime to claims without evidence, events risk undermining confidence in vaccines — tools that remain crucial for protecting against serious illness and death.
Both King Charles III and the Princess of Wales announced cancer diagnoses earlier this year. Neither has disclosed the type of cancer they face, and doctors stress there is no evidence to suggest any connection with vaccines.
As Ferguson and other scientists underline, claims linking vaccines to cancer are not only unsupported but dangerously misleading.