Pandemics

The current pandemic risk is influenced by several factors: the flu continues to circulate at moderate to high levels with pediatric fatalities, measles outbreaks are occurring in multiple states, and avian flu is spreading among poultry and wild birds in the US and other countries. While vaccine development and deployment efforts are ongoing, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation remain significant barriers to achieving high vaccination coverage. Additionally, the potential for new pathogen emergence, as seen with novel coronavirus discoveries, underscores the need for vigilant surveillance and rapid response capabilities.