Peer Calls for Further Research on the Link Between Vaccines and Heart Disease
Lord Farmer questioned the lack of transparency in ONS data linking COVID-19 vaccines to heart conditions, which was only made available to select ‘qualified researchers’ after being denied to MPs upon request.
A member of the House of Lords has urged the government to provide data that could establish a connection between COVID-19 vaccines and the rise in heart conditions among younger individuals post-vaccination.
Lord Farmer inquired about the assessment made by the government regarding the link between vaccine status and coronary heart disease during a session in the Lords on Tuesday.
“The government’s reluctance to share comprehensive data is contradictory to the ongoing push for vaccination,” Lord Farmer remarked.
He called for the publication of data on cardiac deaths among the vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals by age group for 2022 and 2023 to investigate any potential links.
Peer Discloses Pericarditis Experience After Vaccination
Another member of the House of Lords, Lord Davies of Brixton, shared his experience of developing heart inflammation post-vaccination.
“A week after receiving my first dose of the COVID vaccine, I developed pericarditis and had to be hospitalized at St. Thomas’s Hospital. I strongly believe there is a connection, but the long-term effects must be examined,” Lord Davies stated.
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Despite this, Lord Davies expressed his belief that getting COVID-19 poses a greater risk of heart issues than the vaccines and emphasized the virus’s long-term impact on overall health.
In response, Lord Markham, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for health and social care, stated that there is “no evidence” linking vaccines to the rise in heart disease. He mentioned that the ONS had already provided this data for research purposes but clarified that it was not accessible to the public.
Lord Markham argued that the risk of heart disease from COVID-19 is higher compared to the risk of heart damage from vaccines, such as myocarditis, a known side effect that disproportionately affects young males.
He cited data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which indicated that the risk of heart inflammation from vaccines is low compared to the risk presented by contracting COVID-19.
Lord Markham elaborated on the MHRA study by emphasizing the safety of vaccines, stating that the number of people experiencing side effects from vaccination is significantly lower than those affected by COVID-19.
Lord Hannan of Kingsclere raised doubts about the effectiveness of vaccines, pointing out the restrictions put in place by the government based on the idea that vaccines prevent COVID-19 transmission.
‘Pfizer Acknowledged Limited Efficacy’
During the discussion, Lord Hannan questioned the minister about data showing the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing disease transmission, mentioning that both the World Health Organization and Pfizer acknowledged minimal efficacy in that aspect.
Lord Markham acknowledged that the vaccines might not have a substantial impact on transmission but emphasized their role in reducing the severity of illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Lord Farmer is among several lawmakers expressing concerns about vaccine safety, pushing for the release of detailed ONS data for public scrutiny.
This data would indicate vaccine administration dates alongside dates of deaths and hospital admissions related to new health conditions, which could be compared against individuals who opted against vaccination.
Following a request from a group of MPs, including Andrew Bridgen, the ONS declined to provide the detailed data to the public, restricting access to qualified researchers only.
Public Denied Access to Data by ONS
Sir Ian Diamond, head of the ONS, rejected the request citing potential inaccuracies in the breakdown of the data, low counts in certain categories, and concerns regarding confidentiality and disclosure risks.
He mentioned that attributing excess deaths was a complex process beyond the current ONS methodology, and that the requested datasets would not significantly contribute to existing high-quality evidence.
Unlike some countries like New Zealand, the UK has not made these data sets publicly available and researchers seeking access have been turned down.
Labor peer Lord Watts supported the government’s stance and called for increased public education on vaccine benefits and safety.
Lord Watts emphasized combating misinformation and rumors surrounding vaccines and encouraged ethnic minority groups to embrace vaccination.
Lord Farmer did not get the opportunity to challenge the government’s assertion that the requested data had already been released.
‘Vaccines May Reduce Life Expectancy by 4 Months’
Several studies have highlighted a possible link between vaccines and heart disease, with recent speculation suggesting that vaccines could reduce overall life expectancy by approximately four months. However, these findings are yet to undergo peer-review.
In a prior debate on excess deaths, Conservative peer the Earl of Leicester urged the government to release the data supporting the claims of vaccine safety and effectiveness in light of the excess death toll. Government minister Lord Evans of Rainow defended the vaccines’ safety and efficacy, citing their role in saving numerous lives.
