Transcript: Dr. Scott Gottlieb on
The next is the transcript of an interview with Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on March 23, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to America’s well being care system and former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb. He is additionally a board member at Pfizer. Welcome again to Face the Nation.
DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So measles is now in 18 states, as I perceive it, largely Texas and New Mexico, however we’ve got seen a rising variety of infections, notably in kids. What do dad and mom have to know and are adults protected?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Adults who’ve been vaccinated must be protected. This vaccine supplies sturdy immunity, and there is no advice that anybody who has already been vaccinated, had the total schedule of two doses of vaccine after they have been kids would want to get one other booster, but when persons are involved, they’ll test their titers. The one advice that CDC makes is people who find themselves caring for these with measles, maybe well being care employees would possibly take into account an extra booster later in life. The larger problem is with kids. So kids get vaccinated, as you recognize, at one yr, after which once more after they’re coming into faculty, round age 4. There is a window the place kids in all probability do not have a variety of immunity. So a baby born has some immunity handed from their mother up till about six months, however there is a window between six and 12 months the place they’re largely unprotected. Usually, we do not vaccinate at six months as a result of infants do not have developed immune programs the place they’ll develop a sturdy immunity from an immunization like this, however there are some suggestions now that kids between the ages of six and 12 months would possibly get a primary dose of vaccine. They’d nonetheless require a second dose at age one and a 3rd dose at age 4.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I noticed the previous CDC director Rochelle Walensky was speaking about that this previous week. The present Secretary of HHS Secretary Kennedy has stated he desires anybody who wishes the vaccine, MMR, to have the ability to get one, however he additionally describes himself as a quote ‘freedom of alternative individual.’ I need to get your evaluation of what gave the impression to be a recommended different therapy.
SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR.: They’re getting very, excellent outcomes, they report, from Budesonide, which is a steroid. It is a 30 yr outdated steroid, they usually’re- and Clarithromycin, and likewise cod liver oil, which has high- excessive concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin D, they usually’re seeing what they describe as virtually miraculous and instantaneous restoration from that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are these viable alternate options?
DR. GOTTLIEB: They don’t seem to be viable alternate options to vaccination, and I would much- a lot want if he made a full throated advice to oldsters to get children vaccinated, particularly in a setting of the areas the place this virus is now spreading. He is speaking about steroids and antibiotics. These can be used within the setting of a kid who’s developed Pneumonitis, is hospitalized, has respiratory misery, and so that you would possibly dose them with antibiotics to forestall secondary infections, and the steroids can cut back a few of the irritation within the lungs. The hope is, kids do not get into that form of misery scenario as a result of they have been vaccinated. So far as vitamin A is worried, there’s actually scant proof that it is efficient on this setting. It is used within the setting of malnourished kids, the place it would present some profit, however I believe speaking about these sorts of therapeutics on this context creates a misunderstanding that there is therapies out there for measles, when actually, there’s not. The one solution to stop measles and stop the sequela from measles is to get vaccinated. You realize, it is the identical means individuals could take into account whether or not or not they select to get vaccinated for influenza, for the flu. Some individuals would possibly decide to not get vaccinated as a result of they know therapeutics can be found. I actually would not advocate that- that they do this. I believe everybody ought to get vaccinated for influenza, however some individuals would possibly make that alternative. There isn’t any alternative on this setting. There’s nothing efficient at- at mitigating the results of measles when you get it, so the one means to do this is to get vaccinated.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, the CDC web site describes vitamin A as supportive care, however vaccination one of the best protection so thanks for explaining that. There is no CDC director proper now. The administration needed to pull their nominee, as you recognize, as a result of they could not get sufficient votes. Alex Tin right here at CBS is reporting Florida Surgeon Basic and a former Texas Congressman, Michael Burgess, are each being floated for the job. How essential is it to get somebody confirmed and within the function shortly?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Yeah, I believe it is essential, particularly once you see what is going on on across the nation with this measles outbreak in West Texas. We could have extra measles instances this yr than we have had in 25 years, and so having management on the CDC that may direct that response is exceedingly essential. Mike Burgess ran the Well being Subcommittee on Vitality and Commerce, labored carefully with the FDA after I was there. He was excellent, very efficient. He did a lot- lot to advance our interdiction work in mail services to cease opioids from flowing via these services. He was very devoted to that effort, truly visited the mail facility in New York at JFK Airport to see firsthand the operation, earlier than he led a cost in Congress to assist present extra funding to get extra inspectors into these services. He has a variety of expertise in a variety of the areas the place CDC has a really related mission.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They usually’ll must face a possible vote as soon as the president makes a range right here. I need to ask about a few of the by-products, and a few of them deliberate cuts from the president’s so-called belt tightening right here. There have been impacts at, for instance, Johns Hopkins, an institute that does medical analysis and receives USAID grants. There are additionally deliberate cuts which have been vowed at Columbia and UPenn to universities that get federal funding and do well being analysis. Do you’ve gotten any perception into what number of well being packages or the importance of the well being packages that will probably be affected?
DR. GOTTLIEB: Yeah, I do not suppose anybody has perception into it but. I believe that is nonetheless enjoying out. These impacts are taking place throughout a few completely different domains. There’s restrictions on the flexibility to go ahead with new grants due to limitations, for instance, posting issues within the Federal Register. There’s new grant making insurance policies which might be being applied so sure entities, sure nations, are being added to lists the place you’ll be able to’t do analysis. There have been just lately some grants canceled that coincide with analysis that will be accomplished at the side of China. They’re terminating sure grants on the premise of coverage issues like whether or not or not they’ve a sure DEI part and- and nevertheless they’re defining that. And then you definitely see the institutional extensive cuts. I believe that is what occurred to Johns Hopkins with respect to the USAID cuts. It is also what occurred to Columbia, with respect to that $400 million minimize, federal minimize, that impacted a variety of analysis. So there’s a number of domains the place they’re being impacted proper now. That is- this is not all DOGE-led. I believe we should be very cautious in terms of analysis packages the place sufferers are concerned. Now, for those who make a mistake with a program like a web site that you simply took down, you’ll be able to all the time put it again up. However once you minimize a grant to a program the place sufferers are concerned with continuity of care is actually essential to these sufferers, it is advisable make lodging for that or not make these cuts within the first place. I do know- I’ve had some conversations. I believe DOGE is conscious of that and making an attempt to be conscious of these impacts.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is an essential level to be strategic in terms of medical care. Dr. Gottlieb, thanks on your perception. We’ll be again in a second.
