Temporal variation and Simpson’s paradox

An ONS release on deaths by vaccination status highlights statistical problems.

The Office for Statistics Regulation wrote to the ONS about a recent release. That Office for National Statistics publication had the headline statistic:

Between 2 January and 24 September 2021, the age-adjusted risk of deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) was 32 times greater in unvaccinated people than in fully vaccinated individuals.

Changing in time