Claim Review: Increase in Cancer Treatments Post-2020

IntroductiFactCheck.orgon

A recent article from The People's Voice claims that health insurance data shows a significant increase in people receiving cancer treatment since 2020, coinciding with the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. This claim review aims to investigate the validity of this assertion.

The Claim

The article states that according to Helsana, a major Swiss health insurance company, there was a 73% increase in cancer treatments in 2021 and a 74% increase in 2022 compared to 2020. The article suggests a potential link between this increase and the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which began in Switzerland on December 23, 2020.

Investigation

The claim is based on data from the Helsana Drug Report, which has been published annually for the past 10 years. However, the article does not provide a direct link to the report or specific data to verify the claim. Additionally, the article mentions a health survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (BfS), but the data from this survey was reportedly removed a few days later.

To evaluate the claim, we need to consider several factors:

Context of Cancer Treatment Data

Cancer treatment data can fluctuate due to various reasons, including changes in screening practices, diagnostic methods, and healthcare access. The COVID-19 pandemic itself may have led to delays in cancer screenings and treatments, which could result in a subsequent increase in reported cases.

Scientific Evidence

There is no established scientific evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to an increase in cancer rates. Extensive clinical trials and ongoing monitoring have not identified such a correlation. For example, an article published in FactCheck.org  found no evidence of increased cancer risk associated with COVID-19 vaccines.

Expert Opinions

Health experts and regulatory bodies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have consistently affirmed the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Any claims suggesting a link between vaccines and increased cancer rates should be scrutinized with caution.

Conclusion

The claim that there has been a dramatic increase in cancer treatments since 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, is not substantiated by reliable scientific evidence. The article lacks context and does not provide sufficient data to support the assertion. While the Helsana Drug Report may show an increase in cancer treatments, this could be due to various factors unrelated to vaccines. Therefore, the claim is rated as 1 out of 5, indicating it is likely false.