"Until vaccines, there was little difference in COVID death rates between blue & red states.

After vaccines, there were clear differences, with red  states having higher death rates, almost certainly as a result of lower vaccine uptake among Republicans."
https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-2-key-facts-about-us-covid-policy 

 @8dc22363 Interesting points. I disagree that it's just about death. As a foodie, I would be miserable if I lost my sense of taste or smell to long COVID. And chronic fatigue would not be fun either.