![More than 800,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. An estimated 163,000 could have been saved by vaccines.](https://cbsnews2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2021/12/14/89409a18-22dc-4ea1-aa4e-ccba05e45866/thumbnail/1200x630g4/0eb0d40b4bc1851754803330a1d5cc59/gettyimages-1230764849.jpg)
More than 800,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. An estimated 163,000 could have been saved by vaccines.
CBSN
As the U.S. marks one year since the first shots of COVID-19 vaccine were rolled out last December, some 28% of adults still remain unvaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Now, as the country surpassed 800,000 confirmed deaths from the disease, an analysis by the Peterson Center on Healthcare and the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates 163,000 deaths could have been prevented by vaccination since vaccines became widely available in June.
"Most of these preventable deaths occurred well after vaccines became available. In September 2021 alone, approximately 51,000 people's lives likely would have been saved if they had chosen to get vaccinated. In November 2021, over 29,000 COVID-19 deaths likely would have been averted with vaccines," the authors wrote.
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This story previously aired on Feb. 10, 2024. It was updated on Feb. 15, 2025. AMIE HARWICK (video): You can seek therapy to address an issue like depression, anxiety, a breakup. You can also seek therapy to be a better you! GARETH PURSEHOUSE (voicemail): I have so much I need to say. Please give me a chance to just say it. … Please (crying) please.
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