Post misrepresents COVID-19 deaths by vaccination status, COVID-19 vaccines

Messaging may emphasize that the article clearly explains that vaccinated people are at lower risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. The numbers are misleading because 70 percent of the population and over 93 percent of people over the age of 65—who are at greatest risk of COVID-19 death—are fully vaccinated. It’s not surprising that when an overwhelming majority of a population belongs to a group, then that group will make up a large proportion of any effect. For example, people wearing seatbelts make up the majority of car accident deaths. That doesn’t mean that seatbelts cause these deaths or that not wearing a seatbelt is safer. It just means that because most people wear seatbelts, most car accidents, fatal or otherwise, involve people wearing seatbelts.

Fact-Checking Source(s):

• Lead Stories