Covid excess deaths study retracted by BMJ Group

BMJ Group has retracted a 2024 BMJ Public Health study on excess deaths during the Covid pandemic, saying it was withdrawn over misinformation on causes of death and limited original work by the authors.

The study suggested that excess deaths in the West remained abnormally high after the peak of the Covid-19 crisis. It was cited in anti-vaccine articles and social media posts that falsely claimed the paper directly linked those deaths to Covid vaccinations.

The study did not make that explicit link. It did, however, say excess mortality had remained high in the Western world for three consecutive years despite containment measures and Covid-19 vaccines.

The wording drew criticism from some researchers, who accused the authors of giving ammunition to unfounded attacks against Covid vaccines. The study's method for calculating excess deaths was also questioned.

BMJ Group had previously said it was investigating the study. The Netherlands-based Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, where three of the study's four authors were affiliated, also opened its own inquiry. An expression of concern had already been issued about the paper in 2024.

After its investigation, BMJ Group decided to fully retract the study. The publisher said the institution and two of the four authors supported the decision.