British Newspaper: Government is withholding data that could link Covid vaccine to excess mortality

The British newspaper The Telegraph reports that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is withholding statistics that could show whether there is a connection between Covid vaccines and excess mortality. The agency refuses to release the data, citing potential ‘concern or anger’ among the bereaved. Both the agency and the government are now accused by, among others, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party of deliberately withholding information about Covid vaccines and excess mortality.

When the Covid pandemic broke out in 2020, governments and authorities worldwide reacted swiftly and forcefully. Countries shut down large parts of society, restricted people’s freedom of movement, and introduced new rules that affected everyday life in ways that few had experienced before. Vaccine development progressed rapidly, and authorities strongly – sometimes almost coercively – urged the population to get vaccinated in order to maintain their rights and freedoms.

Press conference after press conference followed with appeals, warnings, and recommendations on how to protect oneself and others. At the same time, there were critics who pointed out that there initially were no long-term studies and complete evidence for the vaccines, sparking debate about the balance between swift action and safety.

As the acute phase of the pandemic began to subside, the tone from both governments and authorities noticeably grew quieter. Many of the questions and warnings that dominated the news flow in the early years quickly disappeared from public discussion, as if the crisis had suddenly been forgotten.

The British newspaper The Telegraph has now reported that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) rejected a request from members of Parliament to disclose anonymized data linking individuals’ vaccination dates to their dates of death.

Last year, a cross-party group of parliamentarians criticized the UK Health Security Agency. In a letter to the UKHSA and the Department of Health, they wrote that crucial information had been shared with pharmaceutical companies but had not been made public.

They argued that the material should be disclosed – in the same anonymized manner as it was shared with the drug companies, and there is no credible reason why it could not be done immediately.

Agency: Risk of misinformation

It was the campaign organization UsForThem that requested the material under the principle of public access to official records, but the agency also rejected this request.

The agency justified the refusal by stating that disclosure could cause – concern or anger – among the bereaved if a connection were to be discovered. Officials also warned that the information could harm the mental health and well-being of relatives and friends.

The agency further claimed that publication – could lead to misinformation – and ‘could negatively affect public willingness to vaccinate’.

The UKHSA also emphasized that individuals could risk being identified, even though the dataset would be anonymized. After a two-year legal process, the Information Commissioner decided that the agency did not need to disclose the data.

Reform UK demands public inquiry

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has promised to push for a formal inquiry into excess mortality and potential harm associated with Covid vaccines. The party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, strongly criticized the UK Health Security Agency.

– We knew there was concern about excess mortality, which is why we demanded an inquiry. Instead, the unelected agency UKHSA is involved in a scandalous cover-up of how and why people die.

– This is completely unacceptable, and the health minister must override them. If we are not willing to learn why people die, what kind of society are we then?

Nigel Farage and Richard Tice. Photo: Faksimil Reform UK Facebook

“They absolutely do not want these data to see the light of day”

Ben Kingsley, legal director of UsForThem, argued that the UKHSA’s actions show a desperation to prevent transparency.

– It reveals a desperation that these data should not in any way see the light of day, he said, and continued:

– It is absurd that the UKHSA claims that the data should not be released because the public might feel concern or anger if patterns or connections were identified.

He further argues that it is remarkable that the public is considered incapable of understanding this data.

– One must ask why the public is considered incapable of handling this data. It reveals a condescending attitude, which also characterized the handling of the pandemic – ‘do as we say, do not ask questions, we know what is best for you.’

UKHSA: Privacy comes first

A spokesperson for the UKHSA emphasized that patient confidentiality is crucial in the decision to refuse to disclose the data.

– Protecting patient privacy is very important. If this data were released, it could be possible to identify individuals, which would cause great concern.

– The UKHSA provided a carefully anonymized version of the dataset that eliminated the risk of identification. We welcome the tribunal’s decision to dismiss the appeal.

At the same time, the UKHSA states that they have already provided a carefully anonymized version of the data, where the risk of identifying any individual has been eliminated. Therefore, the agency believes that confidentiality is ensured and welcomes the tribunal’s decision to dismiss the appeal for access to further information.