Red states are more rural which slowed spread initially, but overall you see a higher death monthly rates in Red states after the first wave ~July 2020 not just after vaccination became available.
It’s not just state policies. The first wave in 2020 hit most densely populated and thus Blue counties hardest, but the second wave in 2020 and every wave after that hit the least populated and most Republican areas hardest.
Cross-checking the list with population density figures per state gives a very different outlook. I went through a very cursory look and skipping the "purple" states I got:
New Jersey is #1 after DC, Mississippi is #33.
New York is #8, South Dakota is #46.
Massachusetts is #3, Louisiana is #26.
Connecticut is #4, North Dakota is #47.
Illinois is #12, Arkansas is #35.
Only getting to New Mexico it breaks down since Alabama has a higher pop. density but Albuquerque has 2x the pop. of Huntsville and pretty much 3x the pop. density.
https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-2-key-facts-about-us-covid-...