The next is the transcript of an interview with Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS Information medical contributor and KFF editor-at-large for public well being, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Aug. 31, 2025.
ED O’KEEFE: We’re joined now by Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS Information Medical Contributor and the Editor at Giant for Public Well being at KFF Well being Information. Physician, so nice to see you. Thanks for coming to Washington for this essential dialog. As a result of it has been a fairly chaotic week on the CDC, to say the least. We have seen the ouster of the top of the company, who’d solely been confirmed by the Senate this summer season, she’s now mounting a authorized problem to that. Different prime officers additionally departed. They’re nonetheless reeling from a taking pictures on the headquarters in Atlanta just a few weeks in the past. Why are these departures so essential to be aware of? And the way do they have an effect on you, me, and all people else, when it comes to well being and medication?
DR. CÉLINE GOUNDER: I believe it is actually essential to grasp that this isn’t simply palace intrigue. This actually does have an effect on all of us. So not simply the director, however the individuals in control of respiratory infections, vaccine security, the Chief Medical Officer, the one that was in control of public well being information additionally resigned earlier this week. So these are actually key positions. To not point out that lots of the administrators of the totally different facilities, as a result of it is facilities plural, have additionally been pressured out during the last a number of months. So that you’re actually coping with a management vacuum on the CDC. So, this isn’t enterprise as standard. And so, particularly, how does this have an effect on you and me, people watching at dwelling? So, to begin with, vaccine coverage. Vaccine coverage is now being made by political fiat and communicated by way of social media, reasonably than a clear, open, scientific overview course of. And so, we’re seeing the reversal of earlier suggestions, which can even confuse whether or not insurance coverage will cowl sure vaccines for sure individuals, and it is already sowing great confusion at pharmacies, in addition to physician’s workplaces.
ED O’KEEFE: So, there’s a sequence of conferences developing relating to the way forward for vaccines and the way they’ll be obtainable, who will get them. Inform us about that and the issues that a few of these, now-former CDC officers had about what may occur at these conferences?
DR. GOUNDER: Yeah. So these conferences are scheduled for mid-September. A number of the issues on the agenda embody the new child Hepatitis B dose. We sometimes give it to newborns as a result of that is to forestall transmission from the mom to the infant. So, that is one of the widespread methods Hepatitis B is transmitted.
ED O’KEEFE: One of many first photographs a child will get.
DR. GOUNDER: One of many first photographs it will get, for good purpose. Additionally safety for infants, for RSV, one of the widespread causes of hospitalization amongst infants. Quantity three, the COVID photographs. And we count on to see a tightening of availability, eligibility of COVID photographs, particularly for wholesome youngsters and adults. After which, lastly, the mixed measles, mumps, rubella varicella vaccine, and revisiting long-standing childhood vaccine suggestions would actually be unprecedented, right here.
ED O’KEEFE: So, it is mainly each shot you get from like 0 to 18 is now up for debate, after which the COVID shot, in fact, which is a vital one for many individuals on a daily, rolling foundation?
DR. GOUNDER:Yeah, some actually staple items that we’ve counted on for a really very long time. A number of the core issues with the method contain cherry-picking of knowledge, scientific critiques being altered or pulled, and unvetted research being rushed into the method, into policy-making. And that is actually an inversion of radical transparency.
ED O’KEEFE: Yeah. There was a- there’s an instance in latest days, as a result of there- is we’re starting- fall is coming, COVID picks up. We have already seen one instance of a college in Kansas Metropolis that was pressured to close down quickly attributable to COVID, and there have been spikes in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, particularly. What do individuals at dwelling must know as the autumn approaches and COVID begins to spike?
DR. GOUNDER: Nicely, I believe, to begin with, vaccinations are for a lot of totally different functions. So it is to forestall extreme illness, hospitalization, and loss of life. However, for lots of people, it’s possible you’ll not have the ability to name in sick from work very simply, like for us, it is actually exhausting to take time without work even if you happen to actually are sick. You may wish to maintain your youngsters at school, and so the easiest way to maintain your self at work or your youngsters at school is for them to get vaccinated so that you and they aren’t getting sick.
ED O’KEEFE: Let’s- and we should always level out, by the best way, that college closed, set to open once more on Tuesday, however the truth that they needed to shut in any respect, proper, as the varsity 12 months is starting, is an indication, probably, of issues to come back when individuals do not get their photographs. Let’s backside line this. I am a 42-year-old man with bronchial asthma. Am I going to have points getting my COVID shot?
DR. GOUNDER: You’ll not, because- although you are below 65. So the recommendations- or the FDA approval is for individuals 65 and older, they’re all good. They’ll get their Covid shot. Below 65 if in case you have a minimum of one threat issue for extreme Covid, it’s also possible to get your Covid shot. So you possibly can, completely. That is not a problem for you, Ed.
ED O’KEEFE: But it surely’s- you understand, youngsters below 18, a wonderfully wholesome partner, ageing dad and mom?–
DR. GOUNDER: — Sure, so ageing dad and mom over 65 they’re eligible. However say you are between 6 months and 64 years of age and also you don’t have a threat issue for extreme COVID. That’s the group the place we actually have lots of uncertainty. Now, I ought to level out, being pregnant is a threat issue for extreme COVID. So your wholesome spouse, as an instance she had been pregnant, which I do not suppose she is, but when she had been, she can be eligible for a COVID shot.
ED O’KEEFE: All proper. Dr. Céline Gounder, we love having you to assist us perceive all this. We admire you coming down, good to see you. And we will probably be proper again.
