{
  "id": 1362317,
  "title": "Covid death study retracted",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/covid-death-study-retracted",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-16T22:00:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/heal/2026/08/1512629/covid-death-study-retracted"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A controversial study analyzing excess deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic has been retracted, after facing criticism for promoting anti-vaccine claims, according to the BMJ Group. Published in BMJ Public Health in June 2024, the study noted high excess deaths in the Western world persisting for three years post-pandemic. It was frequently referenced in misleading anti-vaccine articles and social media posts erroneously attributing these excess deaths to Covid vaccinations. These claims were not supported by the study, which instead concluded that excess mortality remained elevated in Western regions despite containment measures and vaccines. The BMJ's expression of concern also alleged that the study was misconstrued to suggest vaccines were a major cause of excess deaths. The study's method for calculating excess deaths was also questioned. The BMJ Group, which publishes The BMJ, initiated an investigation into the study and ultimately decided to retract it entirely, the most severe form of disavowal for scientific papers. The Netherlands-based Princess Máxima Centre for Paediatric Oncology, the affiliation of three of the four authors, also launched an investigation. After completing its review, the BMJ Group decided to retract the study in full, the most stringent measure of scientific disavowal for scientific papers.",
  "summary": "Your browser does not support the audio element.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}