According to a new study conducted in 34 developed countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a long-term increase in mortality that persists to this day. These findings challenge the notion of "mortality displacement," which suggests that the primary victims of the pandemic were those who already had a high likelihood of early death.
The study's results showed that the concept of "mortality displacement," which claimed that COVID-19 only took the lives of those who might have died soon anyway, is not supported by evidence. In fact, cases of accelerated death accounted for only a small fraction of the total number of victims, while the number of deaths from COVID-19 remains high.
The long-term health consequences of COVID-19 are becoming increasingly evident. There is growing evidence that the virus may increase health risks for months and even years after recovery, including among people with mild cases of the disease.
A British study found that individuals who recovered from mild COVID-19 experience cognitive impairments equivalent to a three-point drop in IQ. For patients with persistent symptoms, this figure can reach nine points, while those who were treated in intensive care exhibit even more pronounced impairments.
Clinical epidemiologist Ziyad Al-Ali estimated that COVID-19 may have increased the number of Americans with an IQ below 70 from 4.7 million to 7.5 million, adding 2.8 million people with severe cognitive impairments who require social support.
A study conducted by the University of Southern California showed that COVID-19 increases the long-term risk of serious cardiovascular diseases, especially among hospitalized patients. The economic consequences are estimated at one trillion dollars per year, with the average cost of treating one patient in the U.S. amounting to $9,000, leading to annual earnings losses of about $170 billion.
In light of this data, the effectiveness of federal vaccination policy remains critically important. According to the CDC, only 17% of adult Americans received the updated COVID vaccine for the 2025–2026 years.
