Dr. for “Face the Nation with Margaret Brain” on 31 August 2025. The following is a transcript of an interview with CBS News Medical Contributor and KFF Editor-at-Large.
Ed O’Keef: We are now Dr. CFF is included in KFF Health News in CBS News Medical Contribution and Editor for Public Health. Doctor, it was very nice to see you. Thanks for coming to Washington for this important conversation. Because it has been a very chaotic week in CDC, at least to say. We have excluded the head of the agency, which was confirmed by the Senate only in this summer, it is now increasing a legal challenge for it. Other top officials also departed. They are still reeling a shooting at the headquarters in Atlanta a few weeks ago. Why is it so important to pay attention to these departures? And how do they affect you, me and everyone in terms of health and medicine?
Dr. Céline Gounder: I think it is really important to understand that it is not just the conspiracy of the palace. This really affects all of us. So not only the director, but also people in charge of the person in charge of respiratory infection, vaccine security, Chief Medical Officer, Public Health Data also resigned earlier this week. So these are really important situations. Not to mention that a lot of directors from different centers, because it is the plural of the centers, has also been forced in the last several months. So you are actually working with a leadership vacuum in CDC. So, this is not the usual business as usual. And so, in particular, how does it affect you and me, people are looking at home? So, first, the vaccine policy. The vaccine policy is now being created by political fiat and is being communicated through social media rather than a transparent, open, scientific review process. And so, we are looking at the reversal of previous recommendations, which will also confuse whether insurance will cover some vaccines for some people, and it is already in a state of tremendous confusion in pharmacies, as well as doctors’ offices.
Ed O’Keef: So, a series of meetings about the future of the vaccine is coming and how they are going to be available. Tell us about it and some of them, now CDC officials can happen in those meetings?
Dr. Gounder: Yes. Hence these meetings are scheduled in mid -September. Some things of the agenda include newborn hepatitis B dose. We usually give it to newborns because it is to prevent the child from transmission. So, it is one of the most common methods Hepatitis B is transmitted.
Ed O’Keef: One of the first shots is found to a child.
Dr. Gounder: One of the first shots, it gets for a good reason. Security for infants also for infants, one of the most common causes of infants being hospitalized. Number three, covid shots. And we expect to see availability of especially healthy children and adults, tightening the eligibility of covid shots. And then, finally, it would be really unprecedented to see the recommendations of joint measles, gorge, rubella varicella vaccine, and long -standing childhood vaccines, here.
Ed O’Keef: So, this is basically every shot that you get from 0 to 18, now for debate, and then covid shot, of course, which is an important to many people on regular, rolling basis?
Dr. Gounder: Yes, some really basic things we have counted for a very long time. Some of the main concerns with this process cherry-picketing of data, scientific reviews are being replaced or drawn, and are being included in the process in policy-making. And this is actually a reversal of radical transparency.
Ed O’Keef: Yes. There was an example in recent times, because there- we are starting- falling, Kovid picks up. We have already seen an example of a school in Canasus City, which was forced to temporarily shut down due to Kovid, and are particularly spikes in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas. What should people know at home because the outlook of the decline and the covid spikes start?
Dr. Gounder: Okay, I think, first, vaccinations are for many different purposes. So it is to be serious illness, hospitalization and prevent death. But, for many people, you may not be able to call from work very easily to sick, such as for us, it is really difficult to take time, even if you are really sick. You can want to hire your children in school, and therefore is the best way to hire yourself or vaccinate your children in school so that you and they are not getting sick.
ED O’Keefe: Let’s- And we must indicate, that school was closed, set to open again on Tuesday, but the fact that they had to close at all, right, as the school year is starting, is a sign, a sign, potentially, when people do not receive their shots. Let’s bottom. I am a 42 -year -old boy with asthma. Am I going on issues of getting my covid shot?
Dr. Gounder: You will not, because- even if you are under 65. Hence recommendations- or FDA approval is for 65 and more people, they are all good. They can get their covid shot. Less than 65 If you have at least one risk factor for severe covids, you can also get your covid shot. So you can, of course. This is not an issue for you, Ed.
Ed O’Keef: But this is- you know, children under 18 years of age, a completely healthy spouse, aging parents?-
Dr. Gounder: – Yes, so they are eligible to parents above 65 aging. But it is said that you are between 6 months and 64 years of age and you do not have a risk factor for severe covid. This is the group where we really have great uncertainty. Now, I should indicate, pregnancy is a risk factor for severe covid. So your healthy wife, suppose she was pregnant, which I do not think she is, but if she was, she would be eligible for a coven shot.
Ed O’Keef: All right. Dr. Clean Gounder, we love to help you understand all this. We appreciate you to come down, it is good to see you. And we will come back right.
