Perspectives on COVID-19’s Toll, Future Readiness

March 13, 2023

Americans are still grappling with the toll of COVID-19 while calling for efforts to strengthen our future preparedness, according to a new national poll released today.

The poll from PAX sapiens and the Pandemic Action Network comes three years into the pandemic and calls for additional funding to ensure we are ready for future global health threats.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Pandemic’s toll:  About 37 percent of respondents reported knowing someone who had died due to the virus; 28 percent reported worsening mental health; 31 percent suffered economic loss; and 14 percent had lost a job.
• Future preparedness:  A strong majority (66% and 63%) supports investing in pandemic preparedness at federal (66%) or state and local levels (63%).
• Understanding the risks:  About 61 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the U.S. is facing increasing risk due to infectious disease outbreaks and pandemic threats.
• Funding allocation:  About half of respondents supported increasing funding to pay more for pandemic preparedness rather than simply reallocating existing expenditures. 
• Quotable:  “The poll shows that Americans’ heightened concerns about pandemic preparedness are driven by their personal experiences of loss due to COVID-19,” the report notes. “More than 103 million people have reported getting sick, and more than 1.12 million people have died due to COVID-19.” 

HAP continues to encourage everyone to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and be mindful of the spread of the virus in their communities. Learn more about vaccine appointments available in your area.

The national poll from PAX sapiens and the Pandemic Action Network commissioned was conducted during January to assess perspectives on pandemic preparedness.

The poll is available to review online.