COVID-19, pneumonia, and influenza deaths reported in the U.S. June 15, 2021

Around 4.8 million people in the United States died from all causes between the beginning of January 2020 and June 15, 2021. Around 589,400 of those deaths were with confirmed or presumed COVID-19. There were also 9,325 fatalities involving influenza, which had pneumonia or COVID-19 also listed as a cause of death.

Vaccine rollout in the United States

Finding a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine has been an urgent health priority since the very start of the pandemic. In the United States, the first two vaccines were authorized and recommended for use in December 2020. One has been developed by Massachusetts-based biotech company Moderna, and the number of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines administered in the U.S. was almost 130 million as of June 15, 2021. Moderna has also said that its vaccine is effective against the coronavirus variants first identified in the UK and South Africa.

Despite progress, the virus remains a danger

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is a new strain that had not previously been identified in humans. The virus is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets that spread during close contact, and some evidence suggests that airborne transmission, particularly in poorly ventilated areas, is possible. Rates of COVID-19 vaccination worldwide are picking up, but it is still vitally important to adhere to the basic guidelines: keep hands clean, maintain distance, and wear a mask.