Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan to discuss the recent Senate Finance Committee hearing featuring Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., focusing on changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and vaccine policy.

During the interview, Marshall addressed President Trump’s decision to appoint Kennedy as head of the CDC. “Look, President Trump chose Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be a disruptor to the CDC, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. He’s focused on making the CDC more transparent to make it more trustworthy. Right now, Americans don’t trust the CDC, so he is literally turning that place upside down. I respect what my colleagues are saying, but I think this whole issue today, or in that meeting, was about vaccines. In my humble opinion, not every person needs every vaccine, and I don’t think there are many children out there that need 76 jabs by the time they’re old enough to vote. But before you label me a non-vax person, look, I’ve raised money for polio vaccinations. The MMR is a great vaccine; it saved thousands of lives. Vaccines overall have saved hundreds of millions of lives, but not every person needs every vaccine, and we just want to empower parents and doctors to make great decisions.”

Marshall also commented on public distrust toward the CDC stemming from its actions during COVID-19: “Well, look, of course, I condemn that shooting, but the lack of confidence in the CDC goes back to what the CDC did during COVID. They misguided us, maybe lied to us, even about the origins of COVID and how to treat it as well. In the vaccine, they overpromised what the vaccine could do as well. So that’s where the distrust is, and now Bobby Kennedy is in there trying to clean up that distrust and trying to give American parents and grandparents and the doctors the right information, transparent information, to make good decisions.”

Reflecting on Operation Warp Speed compared with current conditions around COVID-19 vaccination recommendations: “I disagree with you. I think it’s such a different time today than it was five years ago. Five years ago, we had a novel virus. None of us had any immunity to it as a strange virus made in a lab in Wuhan, China. But today, on average, Americans have had COVID five times. We now have natural immunity to it, and not everybody needs the vaccine. So both things can be true… It was a different day then than it is today.”

On access to vaccines for older adults versus other countries’ policies: “Look, I disagree. Respectfully disagree… What the CDC is now saying is if you’re over age 65 you can have the vaccine… Interestingly UK and France have set 75 and 80 as ages… If you’re over six months [old], it’s probably a good idea to talk to your doctor…”

He also discussed concerns regarding recommended childhood vaccinations: “I delivered a baby every day for 25 years… If that mom has a negative hepatitis test… then there’s zero chance that baby’s going to have hepatitis… Not every baby needs a hepatitis vaccine… especially on day number one…”

Addressing differences between Republican and Democratic approaches: “This is the big difference between Democrats and Republicans… Democrats want a one-size-fits-all prescription for everybody… I have confidence in doctors and nurses and parents…”

Regarding Secretary Kennedy's report linking Tylenol use by pregnant women with health outcomes among children: “Look Tylenol is Category B drug... But... I try tell my patients... not take anything because we don’t know what we don’t know... And I want gold standard studies help us figure this out... But as far as I know Tylenol is okay in pregnancy.”

Senator Marshall concluded by emphasizing local decision-making in health policy rather than broad federal mandates.