OPINION: Five reasons why public health matters
November 19, 2025 | By Chris FinleyNovember 24 is Public Health Thank You Day and this year it feels vitally important to speak out in support of public health professionals, given the demoralizing attacks on public health from the Trump administration and the potential impact on state health departments.
At the national level, numerous programs have been slated to be eliminated or face significant cuts. The Health Department receives a substantial amount of federal funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). NPR recently noted, “The CDC is currently down around 33% of its staff since January.” SAMHSA has terminated $1.7 billion in block grants for state health departments.
We are fortunate to currently have a state Health Department staffed with professionals who are working to improve and protect the health of Vermonters. There is concern across Vermont that the critical work of the Health Department will be reduced secondary to federal funding cuts. With reduced funding, it is essential to ensure core public health services are maintained.
Here are five reasons to be thankful for the work of public health:
1. Preventing illness before it reaches you
Every day, public health professionals work to stop diseases before they spread. Vaccines are estimated to have prevented over 1 million deaths in U.S. children born in recent decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes diseases like influenza, measles, or whooping cough.
2. Keeping your food and water safe
Public health systems monitor and protect the food you eat and the water you drink. In the U.S., nearly 1 in 6 people, or about 48 million, contract a foodborne illness each year. Strong food and water safety measures reduce the risk of getting a foodborne illness. So, when you turn on your tap or buy groceries, know that public health efforts have likely kept those items safe for you to consume.
3. Responding quickly during emergencies
Whether it’s a pandemic, a major hurricane, wildfire, or other disasters, public health teams are often on the front lines assisting with the response by sharing vital information and helping protect communities. While preparedness can’t prevent every incident, public health planning, surveillance, and response can help save lives when disaster strikes.
4. Protecting the air, water and environment around you
Poor air quality, contaminated water, lead exposure, and disease-carrying insects all pose threats. In the U.S., millions of people live in areas rated as having unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Public health efforts that monitor and reduce these hazards mean fewer people may suffer from asthma attacks, heart disease, cancers, and other conditions.
5. Using data and science to help guide decision-makers
Research, surveillance, and data guide nearly every public health initiative. Studies show that every dollar invested in public health saves about $14 in medical and social costs. In many ways, public health supports economic stability and effective resource utilization.
You can find out more about the work of public health at HealthVermont.gov. Follow the Vermont Health Department on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp.
Chris Finley is with SOS for Public Health, a group of retired and former Vermont Health Department employees who are speaking out strongly for public health in our state.