The Health Department’s Division of Disease Control (DDC) is made up of 10 program areas, which work independently and collaboratively to prevent, control and report on communicable diseases. DDC is also home to the Preparedness program which helps people prepare for public health emergencies and educates the community on how to stay safe and healthy. In addition, DDC works collaboratively with other divisions within the Health Department to plan for and respond to public health emergencies and concerns.
Over the last few years, DDC has been at the forefront of the City’s COVID-19 and mpox responses. It also helped Ukranian refugees settle in Philadelphia and provided medical services at the Migrant Welcoming Center. During Operation Allies Welcome, the historic relocation of tens of thousands of Afghan allies from Afghanistan to the United States, DDC helped lead the City as more than 25,000 Afghans came through Philadelphia International Airport.
Current initiatives within the division include projects and activities aimed at building and sustaining health equity, finalizing, and implementing the Viral Hepatitis Elimination Plan, responding to a growing number of Hepatitis A cases in the city with education and vaccination, preparing for utilization of the Excessive Heat Plan, and activation of Heat Emergencies during the summer as well as wastewater testing initiatives.
While these are some of the many initiatives DDC is working on, division programs continue to provide STD and Tuberculosis testing and treatment, COVID-19 testing and test kit distribution, managing immunizations, outreach, and education for Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults at Risk enrolled providers. DDC also manages Philavax, Philadelphia’s Vaccine Registry, maintaining and updating the public data dashboards which relay information of COVID-19 testing and vaccination and surveillance, investigation and response to over 60 reportable diseases and conditions.
