Excess mortality data from Western countries raises questions on public health policies, vaccine injury

A recent study published in BMJ Public Health has revealed that excess mortality remained high in Western countries from January 2020 to December 2022, despite the implementation of containment measures and widespread COVID-19 vaccination efforts. [2024;2:e000282] This observation raises significant concerns about the underlying factors contributing to this persistent trend.

The study examined all-cause mortality data from 47 Western countries, using the ‘Our World in Data’ database. The researchers found that excess mortality was documented in 87 percent of countries in 2020, 89 percent in 2021, and 91 percent in 2022. The total number of excess deaths over this 3-year period reached over 3 million.

In 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic onset, 1,033,122 excess deaths were recorded, with a P-score of 11.4 percent. The highest number of excess deaths was observed in 2021, with 1,256,942 deaths (P-score 13.8 percent), coinciding with the continuation of containment measures and the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. In 2022, even as most containment measures were lifted and vaccination efforts continued, 808,392 excess deaths were reported (P-score 8.8 percent).

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Note: P-score, in the context of excess mortality analysis, refers to the percentage difference between the reported number of deaths and the projected number of deaths in a country during a specific period. It is used for comparing excess mortality levels across different countries.

The study utilized mortality data from both the Human Mortality Database and the World Mortality Dataset, adjusting for seasonal variations and year-to-year trends using a model developed by Karlinsky and Kobak. [Elife 2021;10:e69336] This model accounts for historical death data from 2015 to 2019, providing a baseline for expected deaths under normal conditions.

Excess mortality was defined as the deviation between the reported number of deaths and the expected number of deaths. The P-score, representing the percentage difference, allowed for comparisons between countries with varying population sizes.

The researchers noted that excess mortality includes not only deaths directly caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection but also those indirectly related to containment measures. These measures, while aimed at reducing virus transmission, had adverse effects on economic stability, mental health, and access to healthcare services.

Vulnerable populations, particularly those requiring acute or complex medical treatments for conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, faced significant challenges. Limited access to medical services, delayed diagnostics, and disruptions in treatment protocols contributed to the high excess mortality.

The study also looked at the role of COVID-19 vaccines, which were implemented widely towards the end of 2020. While vaccines were effective in preventing severe disease, concerns about adverse events were noted. Reports of myocarditis, pericarditis, and other serious adverse events were documented, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and investigation.

The findings highlight the importance of investigating the underlying causes of persistent excess mortality. The authors called for comprehensive evaluations of health crisis policies and emphasized the need for transparency in mortality data. Here, detailed cause-of-death data and postmortem examinations are important for elucidating the exact reasons behind these deaths and for improving future health crisis responses.