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, principally Texas and New Mexico, however we’ve seen a rising variety of infections, notably in kids. What do mother and father have to know and are adults protected?

DR. GOTTLIEB: Adults who’ve been vaccinated ought to be protected. This vaccine offers sturdy immunity, and there is not any advice that anybody who has already been vaccinated, had the complete schedule of two doses of vaccine once they had been kids would wish to get one other booster, but when individuals are involved, they’ll test their titers. The one advice that CDC makes is people who find themselves taking good care of these with measles, maybe well being care employees may think about an extra booster later in life. The larger problem is with kids. So kids get vaccinated, as , at one 12 months, after which once more once they’re coming into college, round age 4. There is a window the place kids most likely haven’t got a whole lot of immunity. So a toddler 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 haven’t got developed immune methods 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 may get a primary dose of vaccine. They might 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 mentioned he desires anybody who needs the vaccine, MMR, to have the ability to get one, however he additionally describes himself as a quote ‘freedom of alternative individual.’ I wish to get your evaluation of what gave the impression to be a urged 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 12 months outdated steroid, they usually’re- and Clarithromycin, and in addition 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 are not viable alternate options to vaccination, and I might much- a lot favor 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 may 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 anxious, 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 in reality, there’s not. The one strategy to forestall measles and stop the sequela from measles is to get vaccinated. You already know, it is the identical means folks could think about whether or not or not they select to get vaccinated for influenza, for the flu. Some folks may decide to not get vaccinated as a result of they know therapeutics can be found. I actually would not advocate that- that they try this. I believe everybody ought to get vaccinated for influenza, however some folks may make that alternative. There isn’t a 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 not any CDC director proper now. The administration needed to pull their nominee, as , as a result of they could not get sufficient votes. Alex Tin right here at CBS is reporting Florida Surgeon Common 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 crucial, particularly if you see what is going on on across the nation with this measles outbreak in West Texas. We could have extra measles instances this 12 months 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 Power and Commerce, labored carefully with the FDA once I was there. He was excellent, very efficient. He did a lot- lot to advance our interdiction work in mail amenities to cease opioids from flowing via these amenities. He was very devoted to that effort, really 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 amenities. He has a whole lot of expertise in a whole lot of the areas the place CDC has a really related mission.

MARGARET BRENNAN: They usually’ll should face a possible vote as soon as the president makes a variety right here. I wish 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 were 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 can 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 occurring 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 can be being applied so sure entities, sure nations, are being added to lists the place you may’t do analysis. There have been lately some grants canceled that coincide with analysis that might be executed along side 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 nonetheless they’re defining that. And then you definitely see the institutional vast 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 lower, federal lower, that impacted a whole lot 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 must be very cautious in terms of analysis packages the place sufferers are concerned. Now, if you happen to make a mistake with a program like a web site that you just took down, you may all the time put it again up. However if you lower a grant to a program the place sufferers are concerned with continuity of care is basically essential to these sufferers, that you must 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 attempting to be conscious of these impacts.

MARGARET BRENNAN: It is an essential level to be strategic in terms of medical care. Dr. Gottlieb, thanks to your perception. We’ll be again in a second.