Measuring Pandemic Impact: Vital Signs From Vital Statistics.

Kiang and colleagues' study emphasizes that deaths directly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection tell only part of the story. Many deaths are likely to be attributable to indirect consequences of the pandemic, including those associated with disruptions in health care systems and the economic and social hardships endured by many people. The editorial discusses the importance of national vital statistics to health and emergency preparedness systems in the United States.