Six years after the first COVID-19 cases surfaced, many people still carry quiet questions. They remember the lockdowns. They remember the loss. And they remember the moment they rolled up a sleeve and hoped for the best.

Now a large French study offers a steadier view of what happened next.

Researchers followed adults ages 18 to 59 and compared those who got at least one vaccine dose by early autumn 2021 with those who stayed unvaccinated into November. The numbers were massive. About 22.7 million people were vaccinated. About 5.9 million were not.

The results brought clarity. Vaccinated adults showed a 25% lower risk of death from any cause during the study period. Even more striking, they showed a 74% lower risk of dying in the hospital from COVID complications.

Still, the researchers urged caution. Vaccinated groups often had higher incomes and better access to preventive care. That advantage can shape outcomes.

People also worried about rare heart inflammation after vaccination. Doctors tracked myocarditis and pericarditis closely. They kept emphasizing one key point: COVID infection itself can raise the risk of those conditions, too.

In the end, this study tells a simple story. Vaccination did not erase every fear. However, it did tilt the odds toward protection.