COVID-19 Updates: We May Need to Get Annual COVID-19 Vaccinations Written by Gillian Mohney and George Citroner on April 15, 2021 — Fact checked by Dana K. Cassell Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling via Getty Images The United States currently has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and related deaths in the world. More than 564,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States. The CDC says people who are vaccinated can meet indoors without taking physical distancing measures. Update on COVID-19 numbers Globally, there have been more than 138 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 2.9 million associated deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University . The United States has reported more than 31 million confirmed cases. More than 564,000 people in the United States have died from the disease. More than 125 million people in the United States have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose. More than 78 million people are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC . Health

COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, and we at NIH are doing everything we can toward the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. You can find the latest public health information from CDC at  www.coronavirus.gov  and the latest research information from NIH at  https://www.covid19.nih.gov  . Meanwhile, science continues to progress on many other fronts, and we will continue to try to bring you stories across a wide range of topics.   Most COVID-19 hospitalizations due to four conditions A study estimated that nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. could be attributed to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure.   Most COVID-19 hospitalizations due to four conditions A study estimated that nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. could be attributed to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure.   Fruit and vegetable consumption reduce risk of death Eating more fruits and vegetables, at least five s