evidence: The number of deaths registered in England and Wales from March 2020 to December 2022 remained above the five-year average in 18 out of 34 months. The total number of excess deaths from all causes registered in England and Wales between March 2020 and December 2022 was 167,356 when compared with the five-year average. Of these, 103,585 were male and 63,770 were female. [...] Assessing the impact of COVID-19 vaccination and positive SARS-CoV-2 tests on the risk of cardiac and all-cause death in young people (aged 12 to 29 years) in England (8 December 2020 to 25 May 2022) showed that there was no significant increase in cardiac or all-cause death in the 12 weeks following COVID-19 vaccination compared with more than 12 weeks after any dose. [...] Between March and December 2022, risk of death involving COVID-19 was similar for those who had received only a first or second dose and unvaccinated people, indicating possible waning in protection from vaccination over time. However, there is more uncertainty around these estimates because of smaller populations.