Center for American Progress

Commentary: We must invest in our public health system, not undermine it
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Commentary: We must invest in our public health system, not undermine it

In an op-ed for The Post and Courier, Jill Rosenthal explains how the United States’ response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illustrates the promise and pitfalls of our public health system.

With winter in full swing, many Americans are preparing for the heightened risk of respiratory illness with a mixture of hope and concern.

New medical interventions offer reason to hope for a better shield against preventable disease, especially important for our vulnerable loved ones. But barriers to access and use remain a concern, mainly as hospitalizations for respiratory viruses are on the rise. Our nation’s response to respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, makes the issue clear: if we want to turn our hopes into reality, we must invest in our public health system to identify new threats and respond to them robustly.

The above excerpt was originally published in The Post and Courier. Click here to view the full article.

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Author

Jill Rosenthal

Director, Public Health

Departments

Economic Policy

We work to address the deep inequities in our economy to ensure that all Americans can live secure and stable lives.

Health Policy

The Health Policy department advances health coverage, health care access and affordability, public health and equity, social determinants of health, and quality and efficiency in health care payment and delivery.

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