COVID: Life expectancy shocker, two groups hit hardest and new booster update

Jun 24, 2021

Alex Peebles Reporter/Producer

By Alex Peebles (Reporter/Producer), Ben Burke (Digital Producer)

As Americans wait for a COVID-19 vaccine booster update, life expectancy has dropped over the course of the pandemic.

A Virginia Commonwealth University study released Wednesday showed the pandemic decreased life expectancy by just under two years for Americans, from 79 years to 77 years.

That is the largest drop in life expectancy since World War II.

Black people and hispanic people were affected most severely. Their life expectancies dropped twice as far as life expectancy for whites.

The study comes as COVID-19 cases in the United States continue to drop. However, hundreds of Americans are still dying of COVID-19 every day.

Young adults and black people are at the greatest risk of dying from the virus. Adults 18-26 years old are the least likely to get the vaccine, and black Americans have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

For those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is no evidence a booster shot is needed anytime soon.

Tags: Pandemic

Gwen Baumgardner: NEW RESEARCH SAYS AMERICANS ARE DYING SOONER THAN THEY USED TO.
IN 2018- AMERICAN WERE LIVING CLOSE TO 79 YEARS. NOW…AROUND 77.
RESEARCHERS FROM VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY DID A HUGE STUDY ON DEATH AROUND THE WORLD.
THEY FOUND THAT THE PANDEMIC DECREASED LIFE EXPECTANCY BY ABOUT 2 YEARS FOR AMERICANS.
IT’S THE BIGGEST DROP SINCE WORLD WAR 2.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING BLACKS AND HISPANICS IN THE U.S. EVEN MORE…
THE DROP IN LIFE EXPECTANCY NEARLY TWICE WHAT IT IS FOR WHITES.
COVID CASES CONTINUE TO DROP.
BUT HUNDREDS OF AMERICANS CONTINUE TO DIE FROM THE VIRUS EACH DAY.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND BLACK AMERICANS ARE MOST AT RISK OF DYING FROM COVID. THERE ARE A COUPLE FACTORS.
YOUNG ADULTS, THOSE AGED 18-26 ARE THE LEAST LIKELY TO GET THE VACCINE.
WHILE BLACK AMERICANS HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY COVID THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
WHAT’S NEXT IF YOU’VE ALREADY HAVE THE VACCINE?
NOTHING YET.
THE CDC SAYS THERE’S NO EVIDENCE THAT A COVID VACCINE BOOSTER SHOT IS NEEDED ANYTIME SOON.