Trust in government and science have been shown to be important factors in crises, including natural disasters, economic crises and pandemics. 

The COVID‐19 Response Inquiry report highlighted the loss of trust and eroded confidence in government, and emphasised the importance of rebuilding trust and resilience with populations, communities and settings that were most negatively affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic and related measures.

This article outlines the critical knowledge gaps in understanding the roles of trust, social capital and resilience in balancing future pandemic public health restrictions with disease transmission and mortality, and the key role these factors may play in future pandemic preparedness.

As governments and policymakers prepare for future pandemics, trust, social capital and resilience should be examined and quantified to determine their roles in mitigating the harms of future pandemics on priority populations as part of equitable recovery and future responses.