Experts call for more research into side effects and any possible links to mortality rates
By Sarah Knapton SCIENCE EDITOR
COVID vaccines may be partly to blame for a rise in excess deaths since the pan demic, scientists have suggested.
Researchers from the Netherlands analysed data from 47 Western coun- tries and discovered there had been more than three million excess deaths since 2020, with the trend continuing despite the rollout of vaccines and con-
tainment measures.
Experts said the "unprecedented" figures "raised serious concerns" and called on governments to fully investi gate the underlying causes, including possible vaccine harms.
Writing in BMJ Public Health, the authors from Vrije Universiteit Amster dam, said: "Although Covid-19 vaccines were provided to guard civilians from suffering morbidity and mortality by the Covid-19 virus, suspected adverse events have been documented.
"Both medical professionals and citi. zens have reported serious injuries and deaths following vaccination to various official databases in the western World" They added: "During the pandemic, it was emphasised by politicians and the media on a daily basis that every Covid 19 death mattered and every life deserved protection through contain ment measures and vaccines. In the aftermath, the same should apply."
The study found that in Europe, Aus tralia and the US there were more than one million excess deaths in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, but also 1.2 mil-
lion in 2021 and 800,000 and 2022 after measures were implemented.
Researchers said the figure included deaths from Covid-19, but also the "indirect effects of the health strategies to address the virus spread and infection".
They warned that side effects linked to the Covid vaccine have included ischaemic stroke, acute coronary syn drome and brain haemorrhage, cardio- vascular diseases, coagulation, haemorrhages, gastrointestinal events and blood clotting.
German researchers have pointed out that the onset of excess mortality in early 2021 in the country coincided with the rollout of vaccines which, the team said, "warranted further investigation".
However, more recent data regarding side effects have not been made availa- ble to the public, the experts warned.
Researchers said that it was "likely" that the impact of containment incas ures, restricted healthcare and socioec onomic upheaval during the pandemic had contributed to deaths, although accepted that was difficult to prove
Gordon Wishart, chief medical officer at Check4Cancer, and visiting professor of cancer surgery at Anglia Ruskin University, said: "It was pre- dicted early in the lockdown period that limited access to healthcare for non- Covid conditions would lead to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of time-critical conditions such as cancer. cardiac disease, diabetes and dementia and that this would lead to excess deaths from these conditions."
Speaking about the potential for vac- cine harm, Mr Wishart added: "The paper provides more questions than answers but, it is hard to disagree with their conclusion that further analysis is required"