The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has reported that COVID-19 was the primary cause of excess deaths among Australians between 2021 and August 2023. The ABS also stated that COVID-19 vaccines did not contribute to excess deaths during this period.
During a Senate inquiry on June 13, representatives from the ABS were questioned about the significant increase in mortality rates in recent years. Excess mortality refers to a situation where deaths from all diagnosed causes, including COVID-19, exceed expected numbers based on historical data.
According to ABS data, excess mortality rose from -3.1 percent in 2020 to 1.6 percent in 2021, spiking to 11.7 percent in 2022 before dropping to 6.1 percent in 2023. There were almost 20,000 cases of excess deaths in 2022 alone.
Bindi Kinderman, the general manager of the People and Place Division of the ABS, stated that COVID-associated deaths were responsible for the unusual rise in death cases between 2021 and August 2023. She highlighted the increase in COVID-19 related deaths over the years.
Concerns About the Accuracy of ABS’s Data
Senator Ralph Babet raised concerns about the accuracy of ABS data, noting that COVID-associated deaths included both those who died directly due to the virus and those who died with the virus. He pointed out that only a small percentage of COVID-19 deaths had COVID-19 listed alone on the death certificate.
During the inquiry, Lauren Moran, the director of the health and vital statistics section at the ABS, explained the complexities of coding deaths related to COVID-19. She mentioned that deaths often result from a combination of factors and that COVID-19 is generally coded as the underlying cause of death.
The ABS representatives stated that there was no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines had caused excess mortality. They identified a few deaths linked to vaccine-related health complications but found no abnormal increases in deaths caused by vaccine symptoms.
Mr. Babet also inquired about guidance provided to doctors regarding recording vaccine-related deaths. Ms. Moran mentioned that there was no clear guidance at the time the data was compiled but stated that the certification guide would be updated to include more information on medical procedures.
