As public health experts issue new recommendations to wear masks get vaccinated, a new poll finds that nearly half of Americans believe public health officials lied to the American public about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and masks.
The latest Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus index found that 45 percent of Americans distrust health experts. The poll also found the public is far less concerned with COVID-19 than in the past and comes just months after a separate poll from Gallup showed American’s confidence in the medical system declined six points from 2021 to 2022.
Eighty-six percent of Americans now believe the country is in a better place than we were a year ago, as roughly the same number (84 percent) agree that COVID is endemic and that we will not be rid of it in our lifetimes.
Public sentiment reflects an optimistic view of the future, as 70 percent agree that we are moving toward a time when COVID-19 won’t disrupt our daily lives.
“Americans are supportive of continued government efforts to fight against the coronavirus, however a significant minority says it is time to move on with 44% of respondents saying America has already spent enough fighting COVID and that it’s time to stop and move on,” according to the Axios/Ipsos report.
Additional data captured by the survey shows:
- 69 percent believe the federal government should continue funding COVID monitoring and prevention measures
- 44 percent think the only people dying from COVID-19 are those who are already sick or unhealthy
- 39 percent say the pandemic is over
- 39 percent of respondents want Dr. Anthony Fauci investigated for his role in the government’s response
- 28 feel that others around them have moved on from the pandemic, while they have not
