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Vastly unequal US has world’s highest Covid death toll – it’s no coincidence

22 points by alisonatwork 5y ago

mensetmanusman 5y ago
The Economist’s excess death tracker is an excellent resource on this topic: https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-tracker https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-...
- the__prestige 5y ago
  Which shows, as expected, that the US is far from having the highest per capita excess deaths. It is among the highest in the developed nations, though.
Proven 5y ago
parkingrift 5y ago
> Some 15% to 20% of unvaccinated Americans say they are still interested in getting their shots, Hanage said – they simply haven’t been able to yet. People have had over a year to get the vaccine. Spare me the “I haven’t had time” argument. In February 2022 if you aren’t vaccinated it’s because you don’t want the vaccine. These people made their choice, as is their right.
- t-writescode 5y ago
  Interesting. If they’re poor, you sure they couldn’t just not take time off? The intensely poor work, basically, 365, to have a roof over their head, worse if they’ve got kids. Oh, and the side effects of the second shot easily take you out day 2. You’re right. Most people who don’t have the shot probably don’t care and don’t want it; but everyone?
  - prirun 5y ago
    Meijer, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and I'm guessing other stores, all offer vaccines. I did my 3rd shot on a Saturday morning walking into Meijer, no appt. Even in poor families, they have to go to the grocery store. No one I know was "taken out" by their multiple vaccines. The worst I heard about was a sore arm the 1st day. Not saying no one was taken out, but making it sound like no one can work the 2nd day is not accurate either. I posted somewhere else that my personal feeling is that there have been so many outright lies told by the previous administration, overruling scientific advice, conjectures that were not true, as well as the virus itself constantly changing, that a large group of people simply don't trust what they are being told and now have dug their heels in. It's a shame there is such a huge lack of trust in US government agencies, but I can't really say I blame them either; they haven't done a lot to deserve trust.
    - hulitu 5y ago
      If you work with your arms and your arm hurts, you cannot work. Vaccine has also other side effects for a couple of days so it's not that simple.
      - mrlonglong 5y ago
        Then I have to wonder at the quality of people over there. I've had 3 shots and none of those shots took me down. In fact I was still able to work.
        t-writescode 5y ago
        Are you attempting to compare experiences of people you don’t know because your particular symptoms and experiences don’t line up with yours, *and then judge them on it*? Is this something you do often?
        mrlonglong 5y ago
        No. That has been my experience myself and of many others I know who had the same.
aurizon 5y ago
There have been many accusations of health networks assigning Covid as the cause of death to access federal funds. The shortage of staff allowed admins to do this - essentially unfindable crime as it would need tests of exhumed remains or have no way to find ever if the deceased had been cremated? I saw some press on this, but I not know the current state of inquiries (if any ) into this aspect.
- rbetts 5y ago
  Comparison to historical death rates contradict this speculation. See for example the Economist link provided in an earlier comment.
  - aurizon 5y ago
    Yes, I see, it does reflect matters. Of course natural deaths embedded in covid would not be seen, but the invoices to the feds would be larger. Obviously a forensic comparison is needed to see if the states really tried to milk the cash cow?
    - drekk 5y ago
      Or we could just not have a for-profit healthcare system and choose a less ridiculous way of allocating public health funds. Seems easier than an inquisition from the crowd that thinks COVID isn't real/is being overblown for nefarious ends.
tomohawk 5y ago
80% of covid deaths are for people over 65, and 80% of the deaths below 65 involve obesity. The US is has a very large percentage of obese people compared to other countries. https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/are-we-fat-think/ https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/are-we-fat-think/
- drekk 5y ago
  Mexico has more obese people per capita than the US and Japan had an older population. Want to compare the US numbers to either of those countries? Then compare per capita healthcare spending. The US doesn't have a public healthcare system. I don't get why it's so impossible for US residents to accept the consequences of that reality. Epidemics don't give a shit if you don't have paid sick leave and the US remains the only industrial country to not guarantee it.
- fosshogg 5y ago
  Didn’t Scott Adams go viral for pointing this out?
- dontcare007 5y ago
  A very cold analysis might show that the early, quick covid deaths were a plus, in that the multiple morbidity individuals didn't place a long term, high cost strain on the Healthcare system.
- andrekandre 5y ago
  what is the ratio of obese to low-income people? are they correlated?
foolzcrow 5y ago

22 points by alisonatwork 5y ago

The Economist’s excess death tracker is an excellent resource on this topic: https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-tracker https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-...

the__prestige 5y ago
Which shows, as expected, that the US is far from having the highest per capita excess deaths. It is among the highest in the developed nations, though.

Proven 5y ago

parkingrift 5y ago

> Some 15% to 20% of unvaccinated Americans say they are still interested in getting their shots, Hanage said – they simply haven’t been able to yet. People have had over a year to get the vaccine. Spare me the “I haven’t had time” argument. In February 2022 if you aren’t vaccinated it’s because you don’t want the vaccine. These people made their choice, as is their right.

t-writescode 5y ago
Interesting. If they’re poor, you sure they couldn’t just not take time off? The intensely poor work, basically, 365, to have a roof over their head, worse if they’ve got kids. Oh, and the side effects of the second shot easily take you out day 2. You’re right. Most people who don’t have the shot probably don’t care and don’t want it; but everyone?
- prirun 5y ago
  Meijer, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and I'm guessing other stores, all offer vaccines. I did my 3rd shot on a Saturday morning walking into Meijer, no appt. Even in poor families, they have to go to the grocery store. No one I know was "taken out" by their multiple vaccines. The worst I heard about was a sore arm the 1st day. Not saying no one was taken out, but making it sound like no one can work the 2nd day is not accurate either. I posted somewhere else that my personal feeling is that there have been so many outright lies told by the previous administration, overruling scientific advice, conjectures that were not true, as well as the virus itself constantly changing, that a large group of people simply don't trust what they are being told and now have dug their heels in. It's a shame there is such a huge lack of trust in US government agencies, but I can't really say I blame them either; they haven't done a lot to deserve trust.
  - hulitu 5y ago
    If you work with your arms and your arm hurts, you cannot work. Vaccine has also other side effects for a couple of days so it's not that simple.
    - mrlonglong 5y ago
      Then I have to wonder at the quality of people over there. I've had 3 shots and none of those shots took me down. In fact I was still able to work.
      - t-writescode 5y ago
        Are you attempting to compare experiences of people you don’t know because your particular symptoms and experiences don’t line up with yours, *and then judge them on it*? Is this something you do often?
        mrlonglong 5y ago
        No. That has been my experience myself and of many others I know who had the same.

aurizon 5y ago

There have been many accusations of health networks assigning Covid as the cause of death to access federal funds. The shortage of staff allowed admins to do this - essentially unfindable crime as it would need tests of exhumed remains or have no way to find ever if the deceased had been cremated? I saw some press on this, but I not know the current state of inquiries (if any ) into this aspect.

rbetts 5y ago
Comparison to historical death rates contradict this speculation. See for example the Economist link provided in an earlier comment.
- aurizon 5y ago
  Yes, I see, it does reflect matters. Of course natural deaths embedded in covid would not be seen, but the invoices to the feds would be larger. Obviously a forensic comparison is needed to see if the states really tried to milk the cash cow?
  - drekk 5y ago
    Or we could just not have a for-profit healthcare system and choose a less ridiculous way of allocating public health funds. Seems easier than an inquisition from the crowd that thinks COVID isn't real/is being overblown for nefarious ends.

tomohawk 5y ago

80% of covid deaths are for people over 65, and 80% of the deaths below 65 involve obesity. The US is has a very large percentage of obese people compared to other countries. https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/are-we-fat-think/ https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/are-we-fat-think/

drekk 5y ago
Mexico has more obese people per capita than the US and Japan had an older population. Want to compare the US numbers to either of those countries? Then compare per capita healthcare spending. The US doesn't have a public healthcare system. I don't get why it's so impossible for US residents to accept the consequences of that reality. Epidemics don't give a shit if you don't have paid sick leave and the US remains the only industrial country to not guarantee it.
fosshogg 5y ago
Didn’t Scott Adams go viral for pointing this out?
dontcare007 5y ago
A very cold analysis might show that the early, quick covid deaths were a plus, in that the multiple morbidity individuals didn't place a long term, high cost strain on the Healthcare system.
andrekandre 5y ago
what is the ratio of obese to low-income people? are they correlated?

foolzcrow 5y ago