I very much enjoyed Elizabeth Bik's presentation about investigating scientific misconduct. She showed a number of resources that are helpful... including
pubpeer.com. I though I would have a look around at some high profile scientists and see what came up. Most of the Australians I looked at were caught up in allegations of reviewing each others' papers.
In doing so I came across this paper which is relevant to earlier discussions:
Excess mortality across countries in the Western World since the COVID-19 pandemic: 'Our World in Data' estimates of January 2020 to December 2022 BMJ Public Health (2024) doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2023-000282 issn: 2753-4294. Saskia Mostert, Marcel Hoogland, Minke Huibers, Gertjan Kaspers.
pubpeer.com/publications/BD524B3E696274C2F24DFFC8CCA546Responses on PubPeer from other scientists include:
"A paper was published in BMJ Public Health that has led to dangerous renewed vaccine deaths conspiracy theories. The actuary Stuart McDonald did a brilliant thread yesterday debunking the paper and has given me permission to share it with you as a Substack post. I think it's important that his analysis reaches as many people as possible!"
substack.com/home/post/p-145461844"The hospital employing most of the authors is less than happy:
www.prinsesmaximacentrum.nl/nl/nieuws-events/news/het-prinses-maxima-centrum-neemt-afstand-van-publicatie-oversterfte-tijdens-covid-19-pandemie"
In conclusion, excess mortality has remained high in the Western World for three consecutive years, despite the implementation of COVID-19 containment measures and COVID-19 vaccines. This is unprecedented and raises serious concerns. During the pandemic, it was emphasised by politicians and the media on a daily basis that every COVID-19 death mattered and every life deserved protection through containment measures and COVID-19 vaccines.". With these kind of sentences it is impossible to understand your hypothesis. You may be more clear. Are you hypothesized that vaccines are responsible of this mortality? If it is, your hypothesis is not supported by data.
"The party that is claimed to have funded this study (foundation world child cancer), has issued an official statement that they have in fact not funded this study and that this research does not fit within the objectives of the foundation. This statement has been shared by Maarten Keulemans (Dutch reporter who wrote about this in national newspaper 'De Volkskrant'):
x.com/mkeulemans/status/1800911817126052322"Originally, the idea was to look at the effect of COVID measures on, among other things, the mortality rate of children with cancer in low-income countries. During the course of the study, the focus shifted and diverted in a direction that we felt was too far from our expertise: pediatric oncology. We are not experts in epidemiology, nor do we want to give that impression. The M?xima Center therefore emphatically distances itself from this publication. We should have been more alert to the formation and results of this publication and will further investigate the way it was created. If it turns out that carelessness was involved in the realization of this publication, it will of course be withdrawn. We, as the Princess M?xima Center, want to emphasize that we strongly support vaccination, and that this publication should certainly not be read as an argument against vaccination."
"Expression of concern: 'Excess mortality across countries in the western world since the COVID-19 pandemic: 'Our World in Data' estimates of January 2020 to December 2022'. Published: 14 June 2024. The integrity team and editors are investigating issues raised regarding the quality and messaging of this work. The Princess M?xima Centre, which is listed as the affiliation of three of the four authors, is also investigating the scientific quality of this study. [1] The integrity team has contacted the institution regarding their investigation. Readers should also be alerted to misreporting and misunderstanding of the work. It has been claimed that the work implies a direct causal link between COVID-19 vaccination and mortality. This study does not establish any such link. The researchers looked only at trends in excess mortality over time, not its causes. The research does not support the claim that vaccines are a major contributory factor to excess deaths since the start of the pandemic. Vaccines have, in fact, been instrumental in reducing the severe illness and death associated with COVID-19 infection."