Persisting deaths from COVID-19: Over 300 individuals each week succumbing to the virus in the U.S.
As of spring 2025, five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, hundreds of individuals are still succumbing to the virus each week.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of approximately 350 people died from COVID-19 during the month of April 2025. Although this is a decrease compared to the peak of 25,974 deaths recorded in January 2021 and weekly deaths seen in the spring of that year, it represents a continued threat, especially to high-risk groups.
Public health experts point to various reasons for the ongoing deaths from the virus, including low vaccine uptake, waning immunity, and missed treatment opportunities. During the 2024-25 season, only 23% of U.S. adults aged 18 and older received the updated COVID-19 vaccine as of the week ending April 26, according to CDC data. Among children, just 13% received the updated vaccine over the same period.
Dr. Gregory Poland, a vaccinologist, suggests that this low vaccination rate is contributing to the number of weekly COVID deaths. However, for those who have received the vaccine, some may not be developing a robust immune response. Poland also highlights the issue of waning immunity from the vaccine over time, increasing the likelihood of infection.
High-risk groups, including older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions, remain at the greatest risk from the virus. Although vaccine coverage is higher in the 65-and-over age group, it is still under 40%, leaving many older individuals vulnerable.
Experts also note that missed treatment opportunities, such as failing to administer antiviral pills like molnupiravir or Paxlovid within the recommended timeframe, contribute to preventable deaths. The CDC suggests that people at high risk should seek regular COVID testing, as some may be infected without showing symptoms and therefore not receiving treatment.
The latest CDC data indicates that those aged 75 and older currently have the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths at 4.66 per 100,000.
Overall, continued COVID-19 deaths are primarily driven by low vaccine uptake, waning immunity, missed treatment opportunities, and persistent hesitancy, all of which leave high-risk groups vulnerable.
- The ongoing COVID-19 deaths, even five years after the start of the pandemic, have international implications due to health concerns that persist, particularly for high-risk groups.
- As public health continues its efforts to combat the virus, focusing on improving vaccine uptake and ensuring timely treatment for medical-conditions such as chronic diseases becomes crucial for health-and-wellness, especially for the elderly.
- Fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and adherence to recommended health guidelines are essential for supportive measures, as they play a key role in boosting immunity and reducing the impact of the virus on vulnerable individuals.
- Public discourse surrounding the pandemic continues to position politics at the forefront, as the response to the ongoing threat of chronic diseases and deaths requires cooperation at global, national, and local levels.
