Building Trust and Readiness: Preparing for Future Health Crises in the United States Post-COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the value of strong emergency preparedness systems and the need for reforms on the local and national level. The pandemic has devastated nations around the world but has also opened the opportunity to enact tangible change in the realm of public health system reform. Future presidential administrations should recognize the challenges faced by the recent pandemic to ensure the nation is prepared for all potential health threats.
The CDC defines a pandemic as a widespread disease outbreak affecting multiple countries or continents.(1) Two key features of a pandemic are the transmissibility and mortality associated with the pathogen. These factors can dictate the severity of the pandemic and require targeted approaches to reduce their impact. However, while the transmissibility and mortality may define the pandemic, the true impact of a pathogen must be measured through its effect on various sectors of society. A pandemic is not just a threat to the health of a population, but rather can disrupt the normal functioning of communities and organizations. For this reason, it is essential that the government responds efficiently and comprehensively during a pandemic.
The U.S government has an extensive public health system at the national, state, and local level. At the national level, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is charged with identifying biological threats and developing protocols to reduce transmission. State health departments conduct health surveillance within communities to detect trends and predict future outbreaks. On a local level, health providers coordinate treatment delivery programs for the resident population. This highly organized structure allows for streamlined communication across all levels of the public health system. The U.S President leads this structure and is responsible for setting the national agenda as it pertains to public health. Most recently, the President created the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response (OPPR), which coordinates efforts across all federal agencies related to public health. This office aims to prepare the nation for any potential challenges it may face in future pandemics.
The major challenge facing the government’s ability to respond to pandemics is lack of public trust. According to a recent PEW Research Center study, public trust in the U.S government’s ability to do what is right is just 16%.(2) Without trust during a pandemic, the government will not be able to mount an effective and implementable response in the community. Future governments should work closely with public health agencies at all levels to both be informed of potential threats and rebuild trust within communities. The newly formed OPPR should develop a series of simulations in order to prepare communities for potential health threats.
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S has the potential to strengthen and rebuild its public health system. This advancement should be coordinated across all levels of government in order to effectively collaborate across the political, economic, and social sectors. It is essential that the U.S government increase public trust to ensure that the nation is organized and prepared for future outbreaks.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, November 3). Pandemic Basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/basics/index.html
Pew Research Center. (2023, September 19). Public Trust in Government: 1958-2023. Pew Research Center - U.S. Politics & Policy.