New OECD research claims that Ireland had no excess deaths during the pandemic years of 2020 to 2022.
Research published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) asserts that Ireland was one of nine OECD countries to avoid excess deaths during this period, reporting the fourth lowest rate globally (and surpassed only by New Zealand, Iceland and Norway).
Excess deaths or excess mortality refers to the number of deaths from all causes during a period of time, above what would normally be expected. The OECD measured the difference between the number of people who died between 2020 and 2022 and the number of people who would have been expected to die during that time if the pandemic had not happened. Excess death figures include those who died from COVID-19 without having been tested as well as from other illnesses.
According to Ireland’s Department of Health, previous estimates of excess deaths during the pandemic did not take into account changes in population size and demographics, whereas this research accounted for demographic trends in each country.
The Department of Health claimed that Ireland’s total population increased by 8% between the 2016 and 2022 census, while the number of people aged 65 and over increased by 22% during the same period. This is more than double the 10% increase in the EU 27 countries in the same time period.
Adjusting mortality rates to take account of these changes, it is claimed that that Ireland did not record excess mortality during 2020 to 2022, and actually had a lower than expected death rate.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly welcomed the findings this week, saying that they “point to the success of Ireland’s public health measures” and vaccine programme.
“I am very pleased to be able to report that Ireland’s excess mortality during the core pandemic years was the fourth lowest among OECD countries,” he said.
“Ireland asked a lot of its population during this time and the restrictions that were put in place had a profound impact on us all. These figures point to the success of Ireland’s public health measures, and to the strong uptake of our COVID-19 vaccination programme.”
Also reacting to the report, Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth urged people to receive their COVID-19 boosters, saying that “COVID is still with us.”
“COVID is still with us, and immunity wanes over time, so I would like to remind all those who are eligible to top up their protection with a COVID booster this winter, as well as keeping up to date with their flu vaccine,” she said.
The issue of reported excess deaths in the post-COVID period have been raised repeatedly in the past year, being referenced in the Dáil by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, as well as TDs Richard Bruton, David Cullinane, Peadar Toibín, Mattie McGrath, Fergus O’Dowd, Duncan Smith, and Willie O’Dea in 2023.
In October, Gript asked Minister Donnelly about the matter, to which he replied that he was unaware there had been any excess deaths in the wake of COVID and would “need to see the data” before he could comment.
Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly denies knowing whether there have been excess deaths in the wake of Covid, saying he'd "need to see the data" before he could comment. Question by @Ben_Scallan.#gript pic.twitter.com/ZNJ3XMXZ1r
— gript (@griptmedia) October 11, 2023
This was despite the fact that before this Donnelly had officially referred to Ireland’s high recorded excess death rate in the wake of the pandemic at least 12 times that year in response to various parliamentary questions.
The following week, the Department of Health says it is engaging with the OECD to monitor excess mortality “as an indicator of the impact of climate change,” and said that heart-related issues and tumours were some of the leading causes of death last year.
The Department of Health says it is engaging with the OECD to monitor excess mortality as an "indicator of the impact of climate change,” and says that heart-related issues and tumours were some of the leading causes of death last year.#gript #premiumhttps://t.co/TWbsi9sHvg
— gript (@griptmedia) October 19, 2023