Today, President Biden signed National Security Memorandum-15 (NSM-15) and launched the National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security (National Biodefense Strategy). The NSM-15 and National Biodefense Strategy elucidate important steps to centralize U.S. government coordination on these efforts, and to help the U.S. and international partners to prepare for, prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from biological threats at home and abroad.

Global Health Council commends the Biden-Harris Administration for instituting this whole-of-government approach. Critical investment and participation in multilateral institutions, such as the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the new Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response at the World Bank, will strengthen global health systems and leave the world better prepared. 

“NSM-15 and the National Biodefense Strategy demonstrate this Administration’s steadfast commitment to strengthening global health security, and preparing the U.S. and the world for future pandemics,” said Elisha Dunn-Georgiou, President and CEO of Global Health Council. “In light of persistent global inequities in access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures over the nearly three years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Health Council calls upon the White House and the entire U.S. government to ensure the National Biodefense Strategy is implemented equitably and inclusively.”

It is now incumbent upon the Biden-Harris Administration to work with Members of Congress to secure the necessary funding to transform this strategy from vision to reality and save millions of lives.

###

Global Health Council is the leading membership organization devoted to advancing global health priorities by uniting advocates, implementers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Using the power of our community’s collective voice, we work across disease areas to drive sustainable funding and equitable policies that improve global health and well-being for all.