GOP Sen. Marshall say administration should acknowledge 'natural immunity' to COVID-19, 'be honest'

Kansas GOP Sen. Roger Marshall says the Biden administration has to "be honest" with Americans in acknowledging natural immunity against COVID-19, amid its push for people to get vaccinated against the virus.

"I think being honest with people, the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] needs to acknowledge natural immunity," Marshall said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "As a physician, I was never able to talk anybody into stopping smoking by a mandate or by trying to argue with them. It was by being honest and communicating with them."

He also argued the CDC states 92% of Americans has some level of immunity to the virus.

"So let's start there," he said. "The messaging coming out of the White House has to acknowledge natural immunity and be honest with America."

Show host Chuck Todd asked Marshall, who has voiced support for coronavirus immunizations efforts, whether he would recommend people get the virus instead of the vaccine, according to The Hill newspaper.

"Of course not," he responded. "But if you've had the virus, that needs to be acknowledged, and then a decision is made with the patient and the doctor deciding if they should get the booster or not. Maybe check their level of antibodies. Take into account what their health care situation is."

Some anti-vaccine groups have argued that having natural immunity from a COVID infection should preclude people from having to get a vaccine. However, health experts have repeatedly said people who have recovered from COVID-19 will still benefit from getting vaccinated, The Hill also reports.