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Requests for Information

Vector-Borne Disease National Strategy
Requests for Information

As part of the ongoing public engagement series for the National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases (VBD) in People, HHS has published a series of Requests for Information (RFIs), requesting feedback from the public on the creation of the National VBD Public Health Strategy.

The first RFI published in the Federal Register ran from April 27, 2021 to June 11, 2021. This RFI sought public input on strengthening and improving the nation's response to vector-borne diseases in a number of areas. HHS requested responses to one or more of the areas below.

  1. What do you recommend as the top priorities to address vector-borne diseases in the United States during the next five years? Why are these the most important priorities?

  2. What goals, objectives, and strategies would you propose for each of your top priority areas?

  3. Do you have recommendations on specific research or programmatic efforts to improve surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of vector-borne diseases?

  4. Any additional topics you wish to provide input on.

This First RFI received 184 responses from the private sector (7%), individuals (74%), non-profit organizations (10%), and government organizations (8%). Respondents also spanned diverse geographies with comments from the U.S. South (31%), U.S. West (23%), U.S. Midwest (9%), U.S. Northeast (28%), U.S. Unspecified (4%), Canada (3%), Australia (1%), and the United Kingdom (1%).

CDC and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) synthesized common themes from the 2022 RFI themes, including:

  • Lyme Patient

  • Treatment

  • Holistic and Alternative Treatments

  • Insurance Coverage

  • Testing

  • Medical Training and Standards

  • More Research and Funding

  • Vector Control

  • Lack of Diagnosis

  • Coinfection (tickborne diseases)

  • Vaccine

  • Guidelines

  • Surveillance

  • CDC

  • Education

  • Climate Change

The second RFI, open for comment from November 21, 2022–December 21, 2022, requested feedback on the draft National VBD Public Health Strategy. This RFI received twenty responses from the private sector (10%), individuals (40%), and non-profit organizations (50%) including professional societies. Respondents also spanned diverse geographies with comments from the U.S. South (45%), U.S. West (25%), U.S. Midwest (15%), U.S. Northeast (5%), U.S. Unspecified (5%), and the United Kingdom (5%).

CDC and OASH synthesized common themes from the 2022 RFI themes, including:

  • Lyme Patient

  • Treatment

  • Holistic and Alternative Treatments

  • Insurance Coverage

  • Testing

  • Medical Training and Standards

  • More Research and Funding

  • Vector Control

  • Lack of Diagnosis

  • One Health

  • Vaccine

  • Health Disparities

  • Community Engagement

  • Surveillance

  • Global Partnerships

  • Education

  • Climate Change

  • Data Sharing

  • Lack of Personnel

To publicly share results and expand upon these themes, the National Strategy Co-Leads organized a March 2023 Public Webinar.

Content created by Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
Content last reviewed August 25, 2023