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Five U.S. Surgeons General Issue Call 'To Uphold Global Health Security' as a Priority under Trump Administration

Former Surgeon General, Joycelyn Elders. Credit: Joycelyn Elders Official Portrait

Dr. Joycelyn Elders and four other former surgeons general, who served in the administrations of Bush, Clinton, Obama and Trump, issued a joint statement headlined in the Nov. 24 in USA Today, “Public Health Requires Preparation for Future Outbreaks.” It has since appeared in multiple media, including this week on AOL News, under the headline, “We Must Prepare for the Next Pandemic.”

They wrote, “Looking ahead, it is imperative to acknowledge the escalating risk of future pandemics and outbreaks. Diseases transcend borders and can proliferate rapidly through contemporary travel and trade networks. The safety and security of the United States are intricately tied to the health and well-being of populations worldwide.

“Thus, it is paramount to uphold global health security as a fundamental national security imperative…. As the new Trump administration assumes office, we implore its leaders to prioritize global health security and vaccine confidence as critical national security concerns. Strong public health infrastructure and global cooperation are indispensable in fortifying our defenses against infectious diseases.”

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