Voters Support Increasing Access to N95 Masks and Coronavirus Tests
By Matthew Cortland, David Guirgis and Lew Blank
The Biden Administration has recently embraced the distribution of free N95 masks to the American people as part of the federal government’s efforts to combat the latest phase of the coronavirus pandemic, the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Previous Data for Progress polling highlighted the popularity of this initiative, but new Data for Progress polling indicates that these masks have not yet reached the American people. The administration currently plans to distribute free N95 masks through participating pharmacies and community health centers — but only 5 percent of Americans surveyed have actually picked up the masks.
The science is clear: disabled, chronically ill, and immunocompromised Americans are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness. For over 20 million disabled Americans who currently receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits, physically traveling to, and going inside of, a pharmacy or community health center may not be possible. This is in part because of access barriers including the heightened risk of contracting severe COVID–19.
Voters across the political spectrum widely support the government mailing masks to this population instead — much like the Biden Administration’s distribution of coronavirus rapid tests through the U.S. Postal Service. Eighty-two percent of voters, including 80 percent of Independents and 69 percent of Republicans, support mailing free N95 masks to people who rely on SSI, SSDI, or VA disability benefits.
By a similar margin, voters also support mailing free coronavirus tests to anyone who wants one. While millions of Americans have already been able to get their tests, there have been significant barriers to access for these tests — including the limit to one order of four tests per residential address. This failed to account for multigenerational households, addresses with multiple residential units, and lower-income households with roommates. Eighty-four percent of voters, including 83 percent of Independents and 70 percent of Republicans, support updating the policy to ensure anyone who wants a rapid test can get one.
The Biden Administration has taken steps to ensure that more Americans are protected from the ongoing pandemic. But especially disadvantaged populations, including the disability community and low-income households, still face barriers to access. It is clear that increased access to protective equipment must remain a top priority as these new initiatives are implemented.
Methodology: From January 26 to 30, 2022, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,292 likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, and voting history. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error is ±3 percentage points.