Dear Editor,

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves grappling not just with the virus but with a haunting reality: excess mortality. This term, laden with sorrow, captures not only those lives lost directly to COVID-19 but also the countless souls taken by the ripple effects of our responses — lockdowns, overwhelmed health care systems, and the pervasive fear that swept through our communities.

Between January 2020 and December 2022, the Western world recorded over 3 million excess deaths. This staggering figure is not just a number, it represents individuals — mothers, fathers, children — whose stories were cut short. In 2020 alone, we mourned 1,033,122 lives, a grim echo of the chaos that erupted. The following year, as we rolled out vaccines and attempted to regain our footing, the death toll surged to 1,256,942. Even in 2022, as hope flickered with easing restrictions, we faced another 808,392 unnecessary deaths.

These numbers demand our attention. They compel us to question the efficacy of our responses. Despite vaccines and health measures, the death rates remain alarmingly high. What are the hidden truths behind these statistics? Studies suggest a troubling under-reporting of adverse vaccine effects, with data from France indicating potential long-term risks associated with mRNA vaccines. In Denmark, variations in vaccine batch toxicity raise further alarms, while Germany’s simultaneous spikes in vaccination and excess mortality hint at urgent safety concerns.

Yet we are shrouded in a fog of uncertainty. Government transparency falters and the true causes of death often remain obscured. Are these excess deaths the result of COVID-19, the indirect toll of our containment measures, or the vaccines themselves? The lack of clarity is unsettling.

Moreover, we must not allow Jamaica to echo the sentiments of the global scientific community without critical examination. The rise of Robert F Kennedy Jr in US President-elect Donald Trump’s Administration as the secretary of health and human services (HHS) signals a growing demand for answers and accountability worldwide. We cannot afford to wait for global trends and studies to guide our understanding; this approach is a form of lazy governance. Our leaders should be actively engaging with the data, conducting our own research, and fostering critical thinking among our populace. Relying solely on international institutions for guidance is a disservice to our people and our sovereignty.

As we navigate this labyrinth of loss and data, we must remember that the quest for truth transcends mere numbers; it is a moral imperative. Each life lost calls for accountability, and the living deserve honesty. It is often said, “The only thing that can save us is the truth.”

Now is the time to confront the uncomfortable questions. We owe it to those we’ve lost to seek answers, to uncover the stories hidden behind the statistics, and to honour the lives irrevocably altered by this crisis. Let us emerge from this haze with clarity and compassion, ensuring that our future decisions are guided by truth, not fear.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

yannickpessoa@yahoo.com