Covid Complications: Insights and Guidance on Ongoing Pandemic Communication

Since September 2020, The Rockefeller Foundation has commissioned Hattaway Communications to conduct quantitative and qualitative surveys on Americans’ attitudes towards Covid-19 actions, addressing testing, vaccines, incentives, and mandates. This nationally representative survey, the fifth wave in the series, was fielded the morning after President Biden announced his vaccine plan with its focus on expanding mandates.

The survey found significant shifts in attitudes about the pandemic since the last wave and reveals important findings for how to communicate with Americans about mandates and other public health guidance. This message brief provides high-level audience insights and message recommendations looking at three big topics that are top of mind for public health communicators: the need for mandates, how to address pandemic fatigue, and the rationale for why public health guidance changes over time.