Fact check: How many people died of COVID after the vaccine was available in the United States

1. Summary of the results

The original statement inquires about the number of people who died of COVID-19 after the vaccine was available in the United States. Based on the analyses provided, it is challenging to give a precise answer to this question. Most sources do not provide a direct estimate of the number of people who died of COVID-19 after the vaccine was available ^{[1] [2]}. However, some studies offer insights into the impact of COVID-19 vaccination. For instance, one study found that among 6,688,231 individuals who received COVID-19 vaccination, 55 deaths were reported, with a mortality rate of 8.2 per million population ^[3]. Another study estimates that COVID-19 vaccination was associated with over 8 million fewer confirmed cases, over 120 thousand fewer deaths, and 700 thousand fewer hospitalizations in the first six months of the campaign ^[4]. Additionally, a study reports that by May 11, 2023, nearly 1 billion doses of vaccine had been delivered domestically, and over 670 million doses were safely and effectively administered to millions of people ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several key pieces of context are missing from the original statement. The timeframe for the vaccine availability is not specified, which is crucial for understanding the impact of vaccination on COVID-19 deaths ^{[1] [2]}. Furthermore, the analyses provided often focus on global or non-US specific data, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the US context ^{[5] [6] [7]}. Alternative viewpoints, such as the effectiveness of different vaccine types or the impact of vaccination on specific age groups, are not considered in the original statement ^{[4] [2]}. It is also important to note that the overall US COVID-19 mortality rate is mentioned in some sources, with 1.1 million reported deaths during the first three years, but this does not provide insight into post-vaccine availability deaths ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading due to its lack of specificity, as it does not account for the complexities of COVID-19 vaccination and its impact on mortality rates ^{[1] [2]}. Vaccine manufacturers and public health organizations may benefit from a narrative that emphasizes the overall effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination, without providing detailed information on post-vaccine availability deaths ^{[4] [6]}. On the other hand, groups critical of vaccination efforts may seize on the lack of specific data to argue that the vaccines are not effective or that their impact is being exaggerated ^{[8] [7]}. Ultimately, a more nuanced understanding of the issue, taking into account the timeframe, vaccine type, and age-specific data, is necessary to provide an accurate assessment of COVID-19 deaths after vaccine availability ^{[3] [2] [1]}.