Former Secretary of State Colin Powell Has Died from Covid-19 Complications at the Age of 84
Powell had a long and impactful career. When he was young, he was a soldier in Vietnam. Later in life, he served under multiple presidents. He was national security advisor for President Ronald Reagan. He was also the 12th chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, which is the highest-ranking military appointment in the Defense Department. Then from 2001 to 2005, he was secretary of state for former President George W. Bush.
In a statement, Bush wrote, “Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of Colin Powell. He was a great public servant starting with his time as a soldier during Vietnam. Many Presidents relied on General Powell’s counsel and experience. He was National Security Adviser under President Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under my father and President Clinton, and Secretary of State during my Administration. He was such a favorite of Presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom – twice. He was highly respected at home and abroad. And most important, Colin was a family man and a friend. Laura and I send Alma and their children our sincere condolences as they remember the life of a great man.”
Powell is survived by his wife, Alma, three children and two grand-children.
Powell was immunocompromised. He was battling a type of cancer called myeloma. Even though he was fully vaccinated, the fact that he was also battling cancer put him at higher risk from dying from Covid-19.
More than 7,000 people who were fully vaccinated for Covid-19 have still died from the virus. Of those instances, 85% of the people who died were over the age of 65. In addition 57% of the people who died were men. Being immunocompromised and a man over the age of 65 put Powell at greater risk.
Does it surprise you that someone who was fully vaccinated from Covid-19 could still die from it?
