An attorney close to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services secretary nominee under Donald Trump, is responding strongly to a New York Times article that alleged Kennedy wanted to revoke the FDA’s approval of the polio vaccine.
Aaron Siri, a key adviser to Kennedy, clarified that the petition in question was misrepresented. He emphasized that it did not aim to remove polio vaccines from the market, but rather to ensure that new versions undergo proper testing for safety, particularly for children. “The petition was focused specifically on safety concerns around one of the six approved polio vaccines,” Siri stated, urging a balanced view on the issue.
The New York Times had portrayed Siri as “waging a war” against vaccines, a claim he refuted, arguing that the petition’s actual goal was to enhance the scrutiny of vaccine safety, not to eliminate available options for immunization.
As Kennedy prepares for meetings with Senators on Capitol Hill, the context of his petition becomes even more pertinent. Filed in 2022 on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network, the petition questioned the safety of the polio vaccine IPOL, citing concerns about the adequacy of its approval studies — which reportedly only evaluated safety for a mere three days.
Siri pointed out that this was not the traditional polio vaccine most people remember, but instead involves a newer technology using genetically altered cell lines, raising further questions about its implications for health.
He also highlighted that this petition was part of a broader effort to address issues with various childhood vaccines containing aluminum, calling on the FDA to ensure that the aluminum content in these vaccines aligns with what is publicly stated.
Siri remarked on the polarized nature of vaccine discussions, arguing that it is crucial for valid questions about vaccine safety and efficacy to be raised without fear of backlash.
Both Trump and Kennedy have reiterated their support for polio vaccinations, albeit with calls for thorough study. Kennedy’s campaign has highlighted a critical approach to health policy under the banner of “Make America Healthy Again.”
In a recent statement, his spokesperson reiterated Kennedy’s belief that the polio vaccine should remain available while being subjected to comprehensive analysis to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, Trump added that he supports reviewing all healthcare policies, indicating a nuanced approach to health issues that prioritizes both vaccine availability and safety measures.
