What is the primary function of the CDC?

The primary function of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is to monitor public health. This involves a wide array of activities, including conducting research on health problems, tracking the spread of diseases, and collecting and analyzing health data to inform public health decisions and policies.

Monitoring public health allows the CDC to identify health trends, detect outbreaks, and evaluate the effectiveness of health interventions. This core competency is essential in guiding responses to public health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks, chronic health challenges, and emerging health threats.

While developing vaccines, overseeing workplace safety, and managing infectious disease control are important activities within healthcare and public health, they represent specific functions or initiatives that fall under the broader umbrella of public health monitoring and response that the CDC primarily oversees. Therefore, the organization’s overarching role focuses on understanding and improving public health through rigorous surveillance, research, and data analysis.