COVID-19 Vaccine-Associated Deaths in the United States
Based on the available evidence, there is no reliable data indicating a significant number of deaths directly attributed to COVID-19 vaccine administration in the United States. Instead, the evidence demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccines have prevented hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Vaccine Safety Profile
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has thoroughly reviewed the safety and efficacy data for COVID-19 vaccines before recommending them for use in the United States 1. While the ACIP and CDC continuously monitor for adverse events following vaccination, there is no evidence in the provided guidelines indicating a concerning number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 vaccines.
Vaccine Benefits vs. Risks
The evidence strongly demonstrates the life-saving benefits of COVID-19 vaccination:
- COVID-19 vaccines prevented an estimated 235,000 deaths (95% uncertainty interval: 175,000-305,000) in the US from December 2020 to September 2021 among vaccinated adults 2
- By May 2021, the US vaccination campaign was associated with a reduction of approximately 139,393 COVID-19 deaths 3
- A dynamic county-scale model estimated that COVID-19 vaccination prevented over 120,000 deaths during the first six months of vaccine availability 4
COVID-19 Disease Burden
In contrast to concerns about vaccine safety, the actual disease burden has been substantial:
- In 2023 alone, there were 44,059 COVID-19-associated deaths reported in persons aged ≥65 years, 5,634 among persons aged 20-64 years, 125 among persons aged 1-19 years, and 58 among infants aged <1 year 1
- COVID-19 continues to account for thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths in the United States each week 1
Risk Comparison
When comparing risks:
- The risk of COVID-19-related death was significantly higher in unvaccinated individuals compared to vaccinated individuals (1.1 vs 0.1 per 100,000 people), representing a 91% reduction in mortality risk among vaccinated people 5
- By September 2021, vaccination was estimated to prevent 58% (95% UI, 53%-63%) of expected deaths in adults 18 years or older 2
Important Considerations
Surveillance Systems: The CDC maintains robust surveillance systems to monitor vaccine safety, and no concerning safety signals related to widespread vaccine-related mortality have been identified in the provided evidence.
Benefit-Risk Assessment: The ACIP's continued recommendation of COVID-19 vaccines reflects their ongoing assessment that the benefits substantially outweigh the risks 1.
Misinformation: Claims about large numbers of deaths caused by COVID-19 vaccines are not supported by scientific evidence from regulatory bodies or medical research.
Conclusion
The scientific evidence demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccines have saved hundreds of thousands of lives in the United States while maintaining a favorable safety profile. No evidence from credible medical sources supports claims of significant mortality caused by COVID-19 vaccines.