No offense, but where have you been? In the United States, protecting the elderly has been the prevalent reasoning in the media and was naturally a part of the public sentiment. The idea that the public's attention should be shifted to protecting children from COVID mostly became a thing in response to schools reopening (and not reopening) and because "don't kill grandma" became a tired phrase.

It would depend on the media you consume, but for me (in Australia) it's always been "flatten the curve" - ie. reduce infections so the health system doesn't get overwhelmed. Once hospitalizations were under control through vaccinations pretty much all restrictions were lifted.

Most people were thinking closer to home: Don't kill me. My family saw a woefully inadequate behavioral response in the community (crowded bars, restaurants, shops), and practically our only source of uncontrolled exposure to the covid denial crowd was at school. If Dad dies or becomes long term disabled, we'll all be homeless.

Where I was during a pandemic? Could have been many places.