Tuesday, April 26, 2022

The Covid Toll: 2021 Worse than 2020

The Covid death toll was greater in 2021 than in 2020 despite the roll-out of vaccines. Why? In part, because pandemic mitigation efforts became politicized, creating an anti-vax movement whose consequences can be seen in the numbers. 

Total number of deaths due to Covid
2021: 460,513
2020: 384,536

Number of Covid deaths per 100,000 population
2021: 111.4
2020:   93.2

Change in death rate from Covid, 2020-21 by age
Aged 15-24:    +179%
Aged 25-34:    +167%
Aged 35-44:    +154%
Aged 45-54:    +117%
Aged 55-64:      +75%
Aged 65-74:      +31%
Aged 75-84:        +1%
Aged 85-plus:    -24%

Change in death rate from Covid, 2020-21 by race and Hispanic origin
Asians: -5%
Blacks: -5%
Hispanics: -4%
Non-Hispanic whites: +36%

Between 2020 and 2021, the Covid death rate among adults under age 55 more than doubled. Among non-Hispanic whites in 2021, the Covid death rate climbed 36 percent while falling for Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics.

According to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, an estimated 161,900 Covid deaths in 2021 could have been prevented by vaccination—more than one-third of all Covid deaths last year. Many of those deaths were the consequence of the anti-vax movement.

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