Most Americans ‘Not Concerned’ About Coronavirus Variants
by Hannah Bleau
Most Americans are “not concerned” about variants of the coronavirus, well over three years after the start of the pandemic, a recent CBS News poll found.
The survey asked respondents to reveal their concern about new variants of the virus and found most, 52 percent, revealing that they are “not concerned.” That reflects a flip flop from the results in 2021 with the omicron variant of the virus. At the time, 58 percent of individuals expressed concern.
The survey also asked respondents to reveal their concern about contracting the virus. That concern reached an all-time high of 77 percent in April 2020, as most expressed concern about a family member or self contracting the virus. That figure has slowly declined, going to 68 percent in March 2021, 55 percent in March 2022, and 45 percent in September 2023.
More per CBS News:
As has long been the case with the coronavirus, concern, attention and action are all connected: 40% report following news about the new variants at least somewhat closely, and those most concerned are following the news more.
Further, less than half of all Americans, 43 percent, said they plan to get the next coronavirus vaccine booster, and that percentage is even less among independents and Republicans — 37 percent and 21 percent, respectively. Nearly three-quarters of Democrats, 73 percent, said they plan to get the booster.