Astounding that this question is being asked (presumably) in earnest after the whole ordeal we went through. Wow.

A million Americans chose death from very effective (preventable) disease instead. That's how.

Did they die?

Is the rabies vaccine not effective in your view?

They were never meant to prevent people from getting COVID. They were meant to prevent people from dying due to COVID. The fact they were able to tell you they had COVID means it was a resounding success (not dead).