How the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Mission and Vision Enable It to Contribute to Public Health and Safety Improvements

The work, decisions, actions, and direction the CDC takes and engages in regarding health and healthcare in the U.S. and around the world are directed by the organization’s vision and mission. The mission of the CDC is to work around the clock, every day, and every moment to ensure the safety and health of the American people and that they are protected from internal and external threats. The organization’s vision is to ensure equity in the protection of the health, safety, and security of the people of the U.S. The CDC has been at the forefront in the organization of the U.S. and global healthcare systems and supporting healthcare efforts such as disease surveillance, research, and vaccine development to fully prepare the U.S. healthcare system for any disease threats around the globe or in the U.S. that has the potential to affect the health and safety of Americans.

There are various local initiatives the CDC is currently involved in that support its mission and vision and promote public health and safety, for instance, the U.S. National Vaccine Plan. The U.S. National Vaccine Plan supports the CDC’s mission and vision by developing new and improved vaccines, ensuring the safety of these vaccines, and supporting informed decision-making for vaccinations (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2020). The U.S. National Vaccine Plan also aims to ensure a stable vaccine supply as well as equitable access to available vaccines while supporting global vaccine initiatives (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2020).

The CDC has the aptitude to promote equal opportunities and improve the quality of life across the U.S. The CDC continuously invests and engages in health research to ensure that the U.S. healthcare system has the current data on diseases and cures to manage current and new diseases. The CDC has also designed healthcare programs for the management of diabetes and other chronic diseases with a focus on individuals based on race and ethnicity. However, the existence of social, cultural, and economic barriers in the U.S. healthcare system is a drawback to the efforts and ability of the CDC to improve the quality of life and promote equal opportunities in the local communities. The maintenance of health, prevention of diseases and related disabilities, and the achievement of population health equity are dependent on the accessibility of healthcare services (Shayne Gallaway et al., 2022). The CDC considers the role of sociocultural and economic factors in the access and utilization of healthcare services in designing its programs to promote health equity and improve the quality of life for individual patients.

Funding Sources, Policy, and Legislation on the CDC’s Provision of Services

Funding sources, policies, and legislation have significant impacts on how the CDC provides its services. As an agency under the government, politically biased government policies that influence appointments and the working of the CDC may have an impact on the CDC’s efficiency in service delivery as well as its public credibility and reliability. For instance, politically appointed officials in the CDC during the Trump era have been accused of meddling with the communication of the CDC during the reporting of the COVID-19 data, which has been linked to widespread unnecessary COVID-19 infections (Diamond, 2020).

CDC’s Impact on Health and Safety Needs of the U.S. Community

The current efficiencies in the U.S. healthcare system in meeting the health and safety needs of local communities can be linked to the work of the CDC. For instance, the CDC has provided various resources that have been critical in supporting the U.S. healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC has been involved in promoting vaccine research, providing daily public briefings, promoting education on the virus and the pandemic, as well as promoting behavioral change to help contain the spread of the virus. Additionally, the CDC has helped identify and protect individuals at an increased risk of adverse outcomes upon infection, such as communities living with chronic diseases, especially diabetes (Singh et al., 2020). As frontline workers in service delivery, nurses can assist the CDC in developing real-life settings research on diseases and patient experiences.

Conclusion

The CDC provides community resources that enable the organization to live by its mission and vision to provide an all-around equal protection of the American people’s safety and health regardless of social, racial, ethnic, and economic differences. However, the ability of not-for-profit organizations to improve the quality of life and promote equal opportunities is determined by funding sources, policies, and legislation. Regardless, the CDC h