What is a key function of the CDC?

What is a key function of the CDC?

• A. Providing research grants for pharmaceutical companies
• B. Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases
• C. Setting pricing standards for medication
• D. Regulating clinical trials for new drugs

Answer: (B)

A key function of the CDC, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the prevention and control of the spread of communicable diseases. The agency is primarily focused on public health initiatives aimed at safeguarding the population from infectious diseases, which includes surveillance, research, and implementation of health policies. The CDC conducts extensive research to understand disease patterns and develop strategies for prevention, such as vaccination programs and public awareness campaigns. This role is crucial, especially in the event of outbreaks, where the CDC coordinates responses to mitigate the impact on public health. The other options pertain to functions outside the primary mission of the CDC. Research grants for pharmaceutical companies, setting medication pricing standards, and regulating clinical trials are typically handled by other entities, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or other regulatory bodies. Each plays a specific role in the healthcare and pharmaceutical landscape, but the CDC's focus remains firmly on preventing disease and promoting health.

A key function of the CDC, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the prevention and control of the spread of communicable diseases. The agency is primarily focused on public health initiatives aimed at safeguarding the population from infectious diseases, which includes surveillance, research, and implementation of health policies. The CDC conducts extensive research to understand disease patterns and develop strategies for prevention, such as vaccination programs and public awareness campaigns. This role is crucial, especially in the event of outbreaks, where the CDC coordinates responses to mitigate the impact on public health.

The other options pertain to functions outside the primary mission of the CDC. Research grants for pharmaceutical companies, setting medication pricing standards, and regulating clinical trials are typically handled by other entities, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or other regulatory bodies. Each plays a specific role in the healthcare and pharmaceutical landscape, but the CDC's focus remains firmly on preventing disease and promoting health.