The infection control doctor in Norrbotten on covid-19 as a cause of death: "Large overvaluation"

There are differences in the reporting between the Swedish Public Health Agency (Fohm) and the National Board of Health and Welfare.

The latter's figures are taken from death certificates, while Fohm's statistics only show that the deceased was infected - not that the person died due to covid-19.

Fohm's method of counting is based on the number of deaths within 30 days of infection.

- This means that if I were to get covid-19 today and then go out and get run over and killed, I would end up in the statistics, says Anders Nystedt, Region Norrbotten's infection control doctor.

"The truth somewhere in between"

If you compare the excess mortality and the number of deaths that are reported to the Public Health Agency, you see big differences.

During the pandemic's initial 80 weeks, the mortality rate in Norrbotten was around 150 people, an increase of almost four percent.

But the number reported by the Swedish Public Health Agency and reported by the Norrbotten Region is a figure of around 290 people.

- It is a pretty big difference but I think the truth is somewhere in between, says Anders Nystedt.

Mortality has decreased since the vaccine

According to Nystedt, it is still covid-19 that in most cases is behind the excess mortality.

- But since February this year, we see reduced mortality figures so the vaccination of the elderly has had an effect, he states.

In the video, you hear more of Anders Nystedt's thoughts on reporting.