HHS Announces Actions on Biological Threats, Pandemic Preparedness, and Health Security

According to an Oct. 18 press release, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced actions on National Security Memorandum 15, signed by President Biden, directing implementation of the “2022 National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security.”

The release states that “The strategy and implementation plan detail a coordinated approach to address the challenges from naturally occurring, deliberate, and accidental biological threats. These threats are among the most serious threats facing the U.S. and the international community. The 2022 strategy builds on the 2018 National Biodefense Strategy, incorporating lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, and laying out a comprehensive implementation plan with bold, concrete actions to transform our health security.”

That said, “HHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will lead the implementation of a range of actions in the National Biodefense Strategy and its implementation plan, which integrates elements of the ‘American Pandemic Preparedness: Transforming Our Capabilities.’  HHS will draw on support from experts across the federal government, as well as provide expertise to support actions led by other federal departments and agencies.”

HHS has already started implementing the strategy with existing funding yet will need Congressional support to provide additional resources, including Biden’s $82 billion request for HHS over five years for pandemic preparedness and biodefense.

Efforts HHS is taking to support the National Biodefense Strategy include:

• Strengthening early warning and awareness of pandemics and biological threats
• Enhancing diagnostic capabilities
• Enhancing vaccine and therapeutic capabilities
• Expanding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) surge capacity
• Strengthening the public health workforce
• Build innovative clinical-trial infrastructure

Ongoing biodefense efforts include:

• Vaccines
• Antiviral medications
• Diagnostics and data analysis
• Manufacturing
• International engagements
• Other actions including early warning, communications, and workforce safety