Americans are split almost evenly over how hospitals should handle critical care for COVID-19 patients in the case of ventilator shortages. In the 18-30 year old age group, the majority of respondents say the priority should be patients who doctors think are most likely to recover with treatment, whereas in the 50+ age group, the majority say the priority should be patients who are most in need at the moment. This statistic shows the opinions of U.S. adult respondents regarding which COVID-19 patients doctors should prioritize giving ventilators to in the case of a shortage, as of April 12, 2020, by age group.
Public U.S. opinion regarding which COVID-19 patients doctors should prioritize giving ventilators to in the case of shortages, as of April 12, 2020, by age
Characteristic
Patients most in need at the moment
Patients most likely to recover with treatment
18-29 years
39%
58%
30-49 years
45%
50%
50-64 years
57%
37%
65+ years
57%
36%
Total
50%
45%
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%
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Public U.S. opinion regarding which COVID-19 patients doctors should prioritize giving ventilators to in the case of shortages, as of April 12, 2020, by age
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Pew Research Center. (April 14, 2020). Public U.S. opinion regarding which COVID-19 patients doctors should prioritize giving ventilators to in the case of shortages, as of April 12, 2020, by age [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 06, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112362/covid-ventilator-priority-us-by-age/
Pew Research Center. "Public U.S. opinion regarding which COVID-19 patients doctors should prioritize giving ventilators to in the case of shortages, as of April 12, 2020, by age." Chart. April 14, 2020. Statista. Accessed May 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112362/covid-ventilator-priority-us-by-age/
Pew Research Center. (2020). Public U.S. opinion regarding which COVID-19 patients doctors should prioritize giving ventilators to in the case of shortages, as of April 12, 2020, by age. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112362/covid-ventilator-priority-us-by-age/
Pew Research Center. "Public U.S. Opinion regarding Which Covid-19 Patients Doctors Should Prioritize Giving Ventilators to in The Case of Shortages, as of April 12, 2020, by Age." Statista, Statista Inc., 14 Apr 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112362/covid-ventilator-priority-us-by-age/
Pew Research Center, Public U.S. opinion regarding which COVID-19 patients doctors should prioritize giving ventilators to in the case of shortages, as of April 12, 2020, by age Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112362/covid-ventilator-priority-us-by-age/ (last visited May 06, 2025)
Public U.S. opinion regarding which COVID-19 patients doctors should prioritize giving ventilators to in the case of shortages, as of April 12, 2020, by age [Graph], Pew Research Center, April 14, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112362/covid-ventilator-priority-us-by-age/
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