Trust in public health officials plummeted during the pandemic, especially among Republicans. During the pandemic, KFF polling has shown a decline in trust in public health officials – especially among Republicans. In 2022, a majority of Democrats continued to say they had at least a great deal of trust in the CDC, the FDA, and Dr. Fauci, while less than half of Republicans had as much trust in public officials as they did in government officials. did. Beginning of the epidemic.
Confusion and belief in misinformation about COVID-19 is common. Misinformation about health care topics is nothing new, but social media, the polarization of news sources, and the pace of scientific developments on COVID-19 all contributed to an environment that has made the spread of misinformation and deliberate misinformation more prevalent than ever before. made much easier. At the end of 2021, nearly eight in ten adults said they had heard at least one of eight different false statements about COVID-19 and believed it to be true or were unsure whether it was true. True or false. Non-vaccinated adults were more likely to believe COVID misinformation than those who have been vaccinated.
Early gaps in COVID-19 vaccination rates among black, Hispanic and white adults were projected to be largely eliminated by the end of 2021. When COVID-19 vaccines first became publicly available in early 2021, black and Hispanic adults were less likely than white adults to report having been vaccinated. This gap reflects differences in vaccine access, such as not paying in time from work to get vaccinated or not having reliable places to get vaccinated, as well as concerns and questions about vaccine safety and side effects. Over time, as public health officials and community groups worked to provide access and answer people’s questions, the gap narrowed and eventually closed. Recent surveys show that the share of black and Hispanic adults who report being vaccinated is comparable to the share among white adults. In fact, the share of white adults who say they would “definitely not” get vaccinated has been higher than the shares of black and Hispanic adults in recent polls.
Partisanship played a strong role in self-reported public health attitudes. Since the start of the pandemic, KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor surveys have found a strong correlation between partisanship and willingness to take preventive action to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to report consistent mask-wearing, social distancing, and vaccinations for COVID-19. Immunocompromised people, regardless of bias, are also among the groups most likely to report taking precautions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact beyond health. The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on adults and children over the past three years. Whether it comes to their education, work, finances, mental or physical health, many – regardless of race, ethnicity and income – have reported feeling the negative effects of the pandemic. Parents are particularly likely to say their children have been negatively affected, with more than six in ten saying the pandemic has had a negative impact on their children’s education and almost as much on their children’s mental health The same is being said about Nearly half of adults say the pandemic has had a negative impact on their own mental health, while four in ten say the same about their physical health and their financial situation.