In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic broke out around the world, posing the most significant challenge to health systems and causing widespread suspension of work, school, and business closures. President Biden has launched a project aimed at improving health systems, surveillance, and ongoing medical interventions. This article will analyze the Presidential Administration’s response to the pandemic, provide an alternative perspective, and suggest specific improvements.
President Biden believes that the Administration must take swift and drastic action regarding the overall pace of response. The President’s Administration emphasizes the exceptional science of research methods and the qualifications of those people who make public health decisions (“The Biden-Harris Plan to Beat COVID-19”). President Biden proposes a seven-point plan for dealing with the pandemic. The first point is to ensure that all Americans have access to regular and free testing. Steps such as doubling the number of take-home testing sites and investing in next-generation testing are being taken. The second point in the plan is to fix problems with personal protective equipment for the public. This point provides states with all critical personal protective equipment. The Administration proposes to take full advantage of the Defense Production Act to increase the production of PPE to implement these measures. The third point is to provide clear guidance on coping with a pandemic for educational institutions, small businesses, and individual families. The recommendations of this point include providing evidence-based and consistent advice on social distancing. Guidance will also be provided on scheduling public spaces.
The fourth point is the efficient distribution of vaccines and treatment in general. Under this point, it is planned to invest $25 billion in a vaccine production and distribution plan that ensures every American gets them (“The Biden-Harris Plan”). In addition, the Administration promises to ensure that political agendas do not affect the determination of vaccine effectiveness. The fifth point is to protect the elderly population from COVID-19. The Administration has decided to establish a nationwide pandemic monitoring panel for Americans to check pandemic status in real-time. The sixth point of the program is to extend the defense system to prevent and mitigate pandemic threats. Under this item, the international development program for tracking pathogens, PREDICT, will be reinstated. The White House National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense will be restored (“The Biden-Harris Plan”). The final item on the program is to urge Americans to use personal protective equipment actively and use medical assistance when needed.
I consider the Presidential Administration’s means of combating the virus to be sufficiently comprehensive. However, I would add a paragraph about combating disinformation against the pandemic. Amid a pandemic, unverified rumors about the coronavirus and its likely origins have become almost uncontrollable. The country needs to implement a project to counter the spread of disinformation about the pandemic and vaccines. Such data can be varied through information campaigns, scientific seminars for journalists, social media campaigns, and educational activities for students. The project could train high school and university students to critically reflect on the information about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines they see on social media. This includes exploring sources of information and considering different points of view. This point in the pandemic plan could significantly increase the chances of success. People who know how to distinguish disinformation will be more willing to cooperate with anti-pandemic programs.
Work Cited
“The Biden-Harris Plan to Beat COVID-19”. The White House, Web.