: Studies published in JAMA Network and by the CDC indicate that excess all-cause mortality was actually higher in the least-vaccinated U.S. states compared to the most-vaccinated states during this period.
: Dowd's primary thesis is that the introduction of mass COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and employment mandates in 2021 is the only major variable that changed to account for this sudden spike. Cause Unknown - Ed Dowd
: Experts from the CDC and various medical journals attribute the 2021 excess deaths to the spread of highly contagious variants like Delta and Omicron , which caused significant mortality even in younger groups. : Studies published in JAMA Network and by
: He argues that the increase cannot be fully explained by COVID-19 itself (which he claims was becoming less virulent by 2021), suicides, drug overdoses, or missed cancer screenings. Scientific and Critical Reception : Experts from the CDC and various medical
: Dowd frequently cites public disclosures from the CEO of OneAmerica insurance, stating that death rates among working-age individuals (ages 18–64) rose by 40% in late 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels.
: Critics argue Dowd commits the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy—assuming that because deaths rose after vaccine mandates, the vaccines must be the cause.