Excess mortality has been observed in several countries since 2021 and has not yet been explained. The aim of this study was to determine whether the age-adjusted mortality rates of non-COVID-19 deaths differed between those who had received one, two, three or four doses compared with the unvaccinated. Data were obtained from the Office for National Statistics of England and categorized by age groups and vaccinations status (unvaccinated or 1 – 4 doses, given at least 21 days previously). Rates among the unvaccinated were used as a benchmark, assuming that COVID-19 vaccination should have no positive or negative effect on the age-adjusted non-COVID-19 mortality rate. The age-adjusted non-COVID-19 mortality rate was higher in all age groups who have received dose 1, but mainly in the elderly. The age-adjusted non-COVID-19 mortality rate also peaked in all those who have received dose 2, mainly in the elderly. Interestingly, age-adjusted non-COVID-19 mortality has a tendency to peak across age groups following the age-dependent timing of vaccination campaigns, both in the first and second vaccination rounds. A fourth finding was the substantially higher age-adjusted non-COVID-19 mortality rates in the 18 – 39 age group among those who had received dose 4. Relevant comorbidities among the vaccinated population may explain the differences (healthy non-vaccinee bias), but these data were not available. Although a causal relationship between excess mortality and vaccination against COVID-19 cannot be established, a higher age-adjusted non-COVID-19 mortality rate among the COVID-19 vaccinated in several age groups was found, that, together with vaccination timing associated mortality peaks require further research
2 Medical News 