US Life Expectancy Fell With COVID Vax Rollout, NY Times Blames a Lack of Vaccination and White People

The New York Times building in New York City on June 30, 2020. Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

The portion of the U.S. population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 rose from 0 percent at the outset of 2021 to 63 percent by the end of the year. Yet, the CDC recently estimated that average U.S. life expectancy fell by 0.9 years in 2021. This is in addition to a 1.8 year decline in 2020—and contrary to predictions that COVID vaccines could reverse this carnage.