Biodefense: after-action findings and COVID-19 response revealed opportunities to strengthen preparedness : report to congressional committees.
Publication Info.
[Washington, D.C.] : United States Government Accountability Office, 2021.
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Description
1 online resource (iii, 77 pages) : color illustrations
text txt rdacontent
computer c rdamedia
online resource cr rdacarrier
Note
"August 2021."
"GAO-21-513."
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
Note
Description based on online resource, PDF version; title from cover (GAO, viewed Aug. 4, 2021).
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic shows how catastrophic biological incidents can cause substantial loss of life, economic damage, and require a whole-of-nation response involving multiple federal and nonfederal entities. The 2018 National Biodefense Strategy outlines specific goals and objectives to help prepare for and respond to such incidents. This report addresses: (1) interagency plans key federal agencies developed, and exercises they conducted, to help prepare for biological incidents; and (2) the extent to which exercises and real-world incidents revealed opportunities to better achieve National Biodefense Strategy objectives. GAO is making four recommendations each to DHS, DOD, HHS, and USDA, including that the secretaries work through the Biodefense Steering Committee to communicate exercise priorities and conduct monitoring.
Contents
Background. -- Agencies developed interagency response plans and conducted biological incident exercises. -- Interagency exercises and real-world incidents show opportunities to better implement the national biodefense strategy. -- Conclusions. -- Recommendation for executive action. -- Agency comments and our evaluation. -- Appendices.
