The next is the transcript of an interview with Sen. Roger Marshall, Republican of Kansas, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sept. 7, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to Face the Nation. We flip now to Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who joins us this morning from Wichita, Kansas. Welcome to Face the Nation.
SENATOR ROGER MARSHALL: Margaret, nice to be with you. I do know it is going to be an awesome dialogue.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know you have been an OB-GYN in observe for many years earlier than you ran for workplace. This previous week, the HHS Secretary underwent intense questioning from each democratic lawmakers, and a few of your fellow Republicans, who have been additionally medical doctors. Take a pay attention.
((BEGIN VIDEO CLIP))
SENATOR JOHN BARRASSO: Secretary Kennedy, in your affirmation listening to, you promised to uphold the very best requirements for vaccines. Since then, I’ve grown deeply involved.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: I might say, successfully, we’re denying folks vaccine.
((END VIDEO CLIP))
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is the Republican Whip, and that’s the Chair of the Committee, Invoice Cassidy. Why do you assume they’re off base they usually’re involved?
SEN. MARSHALL: Look, President Trump selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be a disrupter to the CDC, and that is precisely what he is doing. He is targeted on making the CDC extra clear, to make it extra reliable proper now. Proper now, People do not belief the CDC, so he’s actually turning that place the wrong way up. I respect what my colleagues are saying, however I feel that, you recognize, this complete challenge in the present day, or in that assembly, was about vaccines. In my humble opinion, not each particular person wants each vaccine. And I do not assume there’s many youngsters on the market that want 76 jabs by the point they’re sufficiently old to vote. However earlier than you label me a non-vaxxer-person, look, I’ve raised cash for polio vaccinations. The MMR is a good vaccine. It saved hundreds of lives. Vaccines, total, have saved a whole lot of thousands and thousands of lives, however not each particular person wants each vaccine. And we simply wish to empower mother and father and the medical doctors to make nice choices.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, I simply wish to unpack a number of belongings you stated there, and simply very- as a result of we wish to be very cautious on this very heated setting. While you say you could have an issue with trusting the CDC, it was only a few weeks in the past a gunman walked onto the CDC campus in Atlanta and shot the place up. Do you care to answer that? And do you assume that we should be cautious once we are discussing the CDC and public well being officers proper now?
SEN. MARSHALL: Properly, look, in fact, I condemn that capturing. However the insecurity within the CDC goes again to what the CDC did throughout Covid. They misguided us, possibly lied to us, even, in regards to the origins of Covid, and the best way to deal with it, as properly. And the vaccine, they over-promised what the vaccine may do as properly. In order that’s the place the mistrust is. And now, Bobby Kennedy is in there, attempting to clean-up that mistrust, and attempting to offer American mother and father and grandparents and the medical doctors the suitable data, clear data, to make good choices.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, simply earlier than we speak about different vaccines, particular to Covid, and what you simply stated with the CDC; it was- the pandemic was in the course of the Trump administration. It started in the course of the Trump administration, and Operation Warp Velocity was a Presidential Directive by Trump, which a few of your fellow Republicans say he deserves the Nobel Prize for as a result of it stopped the pandemic. So, did you belief the CDC and Operation Warp Velocity beneath President Trump, or are you saying you do not assume the President deserves the prize for that shot?
SEN. MARSHALL: Look President Trump completely deserves the Nobel prize. That vaccine saved thousands and thousands of lives —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Okay, however you simply stated one thing that sounded very contradictory to that. —
SEN. MARSHALL: I disagree. I feel it is such a distinct time in the present day than it was 5 years in the past. 5 years in the past, we had a novel virus. None of us had any immunity to it. It was a wierd virus made in a lab in Wuhan, China. However in the present day, on common, People have had Covid 5 instances. We now have pure immunity to it, and never all people wants the vaccine. So each issues could be true, and that is why, when you could have individuals who do not perceive science, that do not perceive medication, why they do not get it. It was a distinct day then than it’s in the present day.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, however folks do perceive that after they go into their pharmacy and have an issue getting a shot. As a result of in lots of states, they’re now advised they want to return and get a prescription, that the impact, right here, of the Kennedy insurance policies are making it harder, even when they fall into classes the place they need to have the ability to get a shot. You’ll acknowledge that?
SEN. MARSHALL: Yeah. Yeah, I feel you make this manner, means too sophisticated. That- look, vaccines are a medication, and similar to you want a prescription to get a GLP-1 —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Proper. You stated he is disrupting. However, successfully, what you have been listening to the Republican Whip John Barrasso, and the Republican Senator Invoice Cassidy speak about was the interruption of the provision of vaccine. Cassidy stated, I might say, successfully, we’re denying folks vaccines. That is not Margaret Brennan, that is Invoice Cassidy.
SEN. MARSHALL: Look, I disagree, respectfully disagree. Take into consideration this, what the CDC is now saying is for those who’re over the age of 65, you’ll be able to have the vaccine. It is fascinating that the UK and France have set 75 and 80 because the age. So, all it’s essential to do is electronic mail or name your physician’s nurse and get a prescription, and it is best to have the ability to get it. Should you’re over the age of 6 months, it is in all probability a good suggestion to speak to your physician. And all of your nurse has to do is take a look at the chart and say, oh, little Johnny’s bought bronchial asthma, positively wants the vaccination as properly. So I feel we’re making this manner too sophisticated. Why does all people lose their minds in relation to Covid vaccine? Why cannot we let the physician and the mother and father resolve? Let the sufferers resolve. There’s so many extra necessary issues on the market we ought to be speaking about: Persistent ailments, 20% of our adolescents have weight problems, psychological well being issues in- and are on prescribed drugs. There’s so many extra issues to speak about than simply Covid vaccines.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No, however I feel we’re conflating a number of issues, together with the operational side of this. I feel folks get annoyed with their insurance coverage firms. I feel folks get annoyed with their pharmacies and the implementation of well being coverage. And you recognize that that is extra sophisticated than simply saying we’re altering a number of issues right here. There are huge implications, and I wish to speak to you about it since you stated you just like the MMR vaccine. You want DPT, Polio, Smallpox. You do not like Hepatitis B, which is a liver an infection, and you do not assume new child children should be vaccinated in opposition to it. Senator Cassidy, who’s a liver physician, stated he handled poor and underserved sufferers and that it may be a life-altering situation for the remainder of your life. So why is not it a compelling argument to you, that this ought to be obtainable?
SEN. MARSHALL: I delivered a baby- delivered a child daily for 25 years. We did a Hepatitis check on each one in every of my sufferers on the time of supply. If that mother has a damaging Hepatitis check, she’s in a steady, monogamous relationship, she’s not doing IV medication, she’s not letting her child play in a sandbox stuffed with used needles, then there’s zero probability that that child’s going to have Hepatitis. Now, there’s different mothers that- or different infants that do want it, okay. We should be extra particular. We will not be overly-prescriptive. If that mother has not had prenatal care, if she’s an IV drug-abuser, if she’s not in a steady relationship, an entire lot of causes, however we have to pick-and-choose. Not each child wants Hepatitis vaccine, and particularly on day primary. What are these vaccines doing to mess with the immune system of that specific child as properly? So, that is my concern. It is not each child wants Hepatitis-B vaccine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And I perceive it may also be unfold from- in a family sharing toothbrushes or razors or, for instance, if her accomplice was not monogamous, the pregnant woman, for instance. However I hear your level right here that you really want this to be extra bespoke, like, extra picking-and-choosing. However others would argue, right here, that in doing that, you are going to drive down immunization charges total, for those who create broader doubt in vaccines, and that it is a slippery slope, right here. Are you in any respect involved that that’s going to be the takeaway?
SEN. MARSHALL: Look, Anthony Fauci did extra to create vaccine hesitancy than Bobby Kennedy will do in his 4 years, or eight years, nevertheless lengthy he has Secretary. That is the place the issue is. So, do not blame Bobby Kennedy for the issues created by Anthony Fauci. However this- however I am simply telling —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — I am asking you about what you stated in regards to the Hepatitis-B vaccine.
SEN. MARSHALL: I am sorry. Go forward.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wasn’t speaking about Bobby Kennedy, or Secretary Kennedy. I used to be speaking about you, and what you stated in regards to the Hepatitis-B vaccine, and are you involved that picking-and-choosing this stuff like this, this bespoke idea of giving extra selection, that it additionally has the impact of undermining confidence in vaccines?
SEN. MARSHALL: I feel this can be a huge distinction between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats desire a one-size-fits-all prescription for everyone. And I am telling you, not all people reads the- reads the ebook does precisely like that. I’ve confidence in medical doctors, and nurses, and oldsters, and grandparents to make these choices. I do not assume that we must always have one authorities coverage that dictates each one in every of these vaccines. I feel native coverage, native faculties, in the event that they wish to have necessities, what Florida did was a bridge too far. However how about just a bit widespread sense? Just a bit widespread sense would go a protracted methods right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, as a result of President Trump stated he had some doubts about that Florida assertion you simply talked about there, too, and that he likes a number of vaccines. Earlier than I allow you to go, Secretary Kennedy based this group that’s arguing that girls taking Tylenol or Acetaminophen could be placing their infants in danger. They declare there is a hyperlink to neurodevelopmental problems. Would you take- inform a pregnant lady to take a Tylenol and never really feel frightened about it?
SEN. MARSHALL: Look, Tylenol is a Class-B drug. I’ve given it to a number of sufferers. It is on the approved- authorised record. However, that being stated, I attempt to inform my patients- my pregnant lady, to not take something, as a result of we do not know what we do not know. I am very cautious. , why- why did 20% of our kids have some kind of psychological well being sickness proper now? Why do we have now so many peanut allergic reactions? Why do we have now so many individuals with autoimmune ailments? We- so we do not know. What we do not know, we do not know, and I would like gold customary research to assist us determine this out and kind it out. However so far as I do know, Tylenol is okay in being pregnant.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks, Senator, we’ll go away it there for in the present day. We’ll be proper again.
