Why are more than 300 people in the US still dying from COVID every week?

[SunSeeker]

Public health experts told ABC News that although the U.S. is in a much better place than it was a few years ago, COVID is still a threat to high-risk groups.

"The fact that we're still seeing deaths just means it's still circulating, and people are still catching it," Dr. Tony Moody, a professor in the department of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at Duke University Medical Center, told ABC News.

The experts said there are a few reasons why people might still be dying from the virus, including low vaccination uptake, waning immunity and not enough people accessing treatments.During the 2024-25 season, only 23% of 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% of them received the updated COVID vaccine over the same period, the data shows.

Additionally, Poland said that immunity from COVID-19 vaccines wanes over time, increasing the likelihood of being infected.This is why the current recommendation for those aged 65 and older is to receive two doses of the updated COVID vaccine six months apart.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/300-people-us-dying-covid-week/story?id=122068959