Summarised by Centrist
A major new analysis by Stanford University and Italian researchers has revised down the World Health Organisation’s previous claim that COVID vaccines saved roughly 14.4 million lives globally.
Instead, the study estimates the true number to be closer to 2.5 million, nearly six times fewer than the WHO’s original claim.
The research reveals that the overwhelming majority of lives saved were among the elderly, with minimal benefit for younger age groups. For people under 30, an estimated 100,000 vaccine doses were needed to prevent a single death.
These findings cast doubt on the justification for mass vaccination mandates, especially for low-risk populations.
Lead author John Ioannidis criticised the “aggressive mandates and the zealotry to vaccinate everyone at all cost,” arguing future vaccine policies should focus strictly on high-risk groups rather than enforcing blanket vaccination.
Concerns about vaccine safety persist. In Britain alone, more than 17,500 people have applied for government compensation for vaccine-related injuries, and manufacturers recently added warnings for heart inflammation risks in younger individuals.
Experts say earlier studies likely overestimated vaccine effectiveness and underestimated natural immunity. This study’s global approach, covering the Omicron period, offers a more balanced view but confirms the benefit was “mostly limited” to the elderly.
Former Brexit Secretary Sir David Davis called the report a “good cautionary tale,” warning that future pandemics require a more nuanced, clinical assessment of risk versus benefit.
