A public health czar?

Covid-19 has killed 100 times as many Americans as the 9/11 attack. In response to the latter, we spent a trillion dollars to invade and occupy two countries, one of which had nothing to do with it. In response to Covid-19, we did invest in developing vaccines but we basically made no other investments in public health infrastructure. As a result of our confused and inadequate response, the U.S. has a higher mortality rate than all but two of the most affected countries, and we rank 62d in the world in vaccine coverage.

That last fact is in large part because conservative politicians and media lied to the public about the vaccines and the risk of Covid-19 in general, but that could have been countered more effectively by a coordinated communication strategy. The Commonwealth Fund panel's first recommendation is:

 

The federal government should lead a strong and capable national public health system. HHS should have the lead responsibility for developing a strategic vision and providing support for the work of federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial public health agencies every day and during emergencies.
The department needs a single focal point for these overarching activities. Congress should create a new position, such as an undersecretary for public health,to elevate this function and more closely mirror the structures of other large federal departments. In the near term and under existing authorities,  the HHS Secretary should reconfigure the role of the Assistant Secretary for Health and appropriately resource and staff this role. The key priorities are to strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure, including data systems, workforce, laboratories, and procurement, and to bring together state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments to promote coordination. Because enhancing health and wellbeing requires programs and policies beyond the reach of HHS, the President should bring together leaders and resources from the White House and across the government in a reconvened National Prevention and Public Health Council.

I know what the trolls are going to say so I will point out that this does not call for any new federal powers, additional bureaucracy, or in any way usurping the role of state and local agencies. What it is saying is that existing functions and powers need to be coordinated and supported in order to function more effectively.  Quote: "to bring together state, local, tribal, and territorial health departments to promote coordination" 

There isn't a pissing zone in the swimming pool. (Not original but I don't know who said it first.) What happens in neighboring states and municipalities affects you. You want the public health infrastructure to be working well everywhere. More to come.