In Part 1 of this report, we reviewed a recent preprint linking excess deaths in Australia to the mRNA vaccine campaign. In Part 2, we consider the challenge of identifying the root cause of excess deaths, whether from COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 causes, such as vaccine adverse events or public health restrictions.
Summary of Key Facts
- COVID-19 deaths may have varying definitions set by hospitals and states.
- Vaccine-attributable deaths require more study to understand the mechanism of injury.
- Estimates of excess mortality vary worldwide, causing them to be challenged as unreliable.
- Excess deaths among young people may have more to do with public health mitigations than the virus itself.
- Australian officials have formally linked a young woman’s death due to cardiac arrest with the mRNA-1273 booster.
Are Excess Deaths Due to COVID or Vaccines? Hard to Decide
Cleaning Up the Death Data Could Start With Admissions to the Hospital
Reviewing reasons for excess loss of life during the pandemic depends on accurately ascribing causes for deaths.To begin this work, states and countries should agree upon a standard case definition of a “COVID death.”
