Canada’s perinatal mortality statistics for 2021 are nowhere to be seen, currently six months behind the reporting schedule.

Perinatal morality consists of late fetal deaths and early neonatal deaths. 

The most recent year showing perinatal death data in Canada is from 2020 – the year the COVID pandemic started. This 2020 data is consistent with the previous 4 years with 5.6 deaths per 1000 births.

The release date for the 2020 perinatal mortality data was January 24, 2022. A note accompanies the release date showing the frequency is “annual,” meaning the 2021 data should have been released January 2023. 

However, the stats update hasn’t been provided.

Instead, StatsCan told The Counter Signal that the data will be released July 13, which is six months later than the regular frequency. The media spokesperson was not aware of the reason for the delay other than the fact that provinces have not yet reported it. 

On Tuesday, StatsCan updated their release delay date again — this time telling The Counter Signal that the data will be provided sometime in August. 

Other countries that are quicker at reporting health statistics have shown concerning rises in neonatal deaths in 2021, the year the novel COVID vaccines were introduced — and mandated.

Scotland, for example, has seen a doubling of its perinatal death data starting in 2021. By early October 2022, the Scottish government began investigating what’s causing the excess infant deaths.

“Every death is a tragedy for the families involved, that is why earlier this year I committed to this review to find out if there is a reason for the increase,” said public health Minister Maree Todd.

One week later, public health experts ruled out any connection with the COVID vaccines for the spike, while simultaneously refusing to inquire about the vaccine status of the mothers.

In refusing to do so, Public Health Scotland said that any data that found a correlation with COVID vaccines “had the potential to be used to harm vaccine confidence at this critical time.”