U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kennedy published an op-ed revealing his priorities for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with an emphasis on restoring the CDC’s focus on infectious disease, investing in innovation, and rebuilding trust through integrity and transparency. These goals are outlined to be achieved through six priorities:
- Protect from threats: Detect and defeat infectious diseases through enhanced respiratory-disease surveillance and a Biothreat Radar powered by cutting-edge molecular tools.
- Build infrastructure:Strengthen global and domestic systems to predict, track, and respond to dangerous exposures and outbreaks.
- Modernize systems:Upgrade data, laboratories, and epidemiology to meet 21st-century threats.
- Invest in workforce:Rebuild the proud tradition of disease detectives, training epidemiologists at home and abroad.
- Enhance scientific rigor:Apply gold-standard science to every recommendation, ensuring America leads the world in safe, effective vaccines and trusted guidance.
- Empower states and communities: Return to the original mission of supporting state and local health departments on the front lines of outbreaks.