4.2.1: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a critical agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, dedicated to safeguarding public health and promoting the well-being of Americans. The CDC's primary responsibilities include:

• Disease Surveillance and Control: The CDC monitors, tracks, and investigates the spread of diseases, both infectious and non-infectious. It works to identify and control outbreaks of diseases, providing guidance and recommendations to prevent their spread. This includes timely communications about the rates of disease or health conditions to the public. For example, The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) is the “voice of the CDC”, providing public health practitioners around the country with up-to-date statistics, information, and evidence-based practical recommendations (CDCMMWR, 2025). 

• Health Promotion and Education: The CDC conducts public health education and awareness campaigns to inform the public and healthcare professionals about health risks, preventive measures, and healthy behaviors. This includes initiatives to combat smoking, obesity, substance abuse, and other health-related issues.

  • Current Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    The CDC has run an anti-smoking ad campaign called “Tips from Former Smokers” since 2012 which features real stories from people suffering the negative health effects of cigarette smoking. At the end of each television or streaming ad, a phone number is provided to connect people to quitting smoking resources in their own state - and a recent study suggests that calls to the quit smoking line increase when more ads are played (CDCTobaccoFree, 2025, Mann et al., 2024). Unfortunately, recent cuts to the CDC budget are threatening this program and many others (Edwards, 2025). 

     

• Vaccine Development and Promotion: The CDC is involved in the development, testing, and distribution of vaccines. It plays a crucial role in promoting immunization and vaccination programs to prevent and control vaccine-preventable diseases.

  • Current Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    The CDC hosts the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); a group of virologists and immunologists who discuss and recommend evidence-based vaccine schedules that are then disseminated to physicians and other healthcare professionals. That has been the role of ACIP historically, although recently it was disbanded and new members (some of whom are public anti-vaccine activists or have conflicts of interest with anti-vaccine groups), were put in place by RFK Jr., the current HHS secretary who is also known for his anti-vaccine rhetoric (Ducharme, 2025, Schnirring & Van Beusekom, 2025). These and other recent changes to vaccine recommendations have caused several medical and public health organizations - including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Public Health Association (APHA), among others - to sue the administration (AAP, 2025).

     

• Chronic Disease Prevention: The CDC focuses on preventing and managing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer by promoting healthier lifestyles and supporting research in these areas.

  • Current Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) trains and certifies lifestyle coaches and provides curriculum for local organizations to support people diagnosed with prediabetes (the precursor to Type II diabetes). Lifestyle changes like improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, and losing weight (if obesity is present), can reduce the risk of Type II diabetes by over half. The DPP also partners with Medicare to fund access to this program for seniors (CDC, 2025b).  

• Global Health: The CDC works on a global scale to combat infectious diseases worldwide. It collaborates with international partners and organizations to strengthen public health systems and respond to global health crises.

• Environmental Health: The CDC assesses environmental health risks, including exposure to hazardous substances, and provides guidance to protect public health from environmental threats.

• Emergency Preparedness and Response: The CDC plays a crucial role in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies, including natural disasters, bioterrorism, and infectious disease outbreaks. In fact, the CDC is at the forefront of coordinating the country’s national response to epidemics and pandemics: including tracking the spread of the disease, providing resources, guidance, and information to local public health agencies, developing and distributing tests and protective equipment, and supporting the development of vaccines and treatments, as well as coordinating with other countries around the globe (CDC, 2025a).

The CDC's history dates back to 1946 when it was established as the Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The organization was initially focused on preventing the spread of malaria. Over the years, its mission expanded to address a wide range of communicable diseases. In 1970, it was renamed the Centers for Disease Control to reflect its broader responsibilities in health protection. In 1980, the CDC was integrated into the U.S. Public Health Service and became part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The "Prevention" was added to its name, making it the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to emphasize its comprehensive role in public health.

The CDC has been at the forefront of numerous public health challenges and breakthroughs, such as the successful eradication of smallpox and the control of diseases like polio and HIV/AIDS. It continues to be a vital institution in safeguarding public health, conducting research, and responding to emerging health threats, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC's work has a profound impact on the health and well-being of people in the United States and around the world.