An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

In this section: Emergency Preparedness and Response

Public Health Preparedness and Response

The FDA plays a critical role in protecting the United States from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and emerging infectious disease threats. The FDA ensures that medical countermeasures (MCMs)—including drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests—to counter these threats are safe, effective, and secure.

Sub-Topic Paragraphs

Graphic representing history of the FDA Medical Countermeasures Initiative (MCMi)

Medical Countermeasures (MCM)

The FDA coordinates medical countermeasure development, preparedness, and response.

MCM News and Events

Public health preparedness and response news from the FDA and our partners.

Pharmacist checking medicine boxes on a shelf, representing expiration date extension. In some cases, testing has shown that certain properly stored medical products can be used beyond their labeled expiration date if they retain their stability.

Expiration Dating Extensions

Information on various expiration dating extension activities, including the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP), emergency use authorities and enforcement discretion.

Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)

The EUA authority allows the FDA to help strengthen the nation’s public health protections against CBRN threats by facilitating the availability and use of MCMs needed during public health emergencies.

Image of vials of drugs in the background with a circle -shaped graphic with spokes representing the 10 Centers of Excellence in the toolkit

Supply Chain Issues

Learn how the FDA monitors, prevents, and addresses shortages and supply chain disruptions.

Hospital emergency staff, representing public health emergency-related issues

MCM Issues

MCM-related topics, including Ebola, mpox, antimicrobial resistance, and more.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Public Health Preparedness and Response