President-elect Donald Trump addressed concerns on Monday regarding the polio vaccine, firmly denying that his administration plans to impose a ban. During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump confidently stated, “That’s not going to happen.”
The discussion surrounding the polio vaccine has gained traction due to the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has garnered attention for questioning vaccine effectiveness, and a recent report suggested possible efforts to limit vaccine distribution, including the polio vaccine. This sparked criticism from various quarters, notably from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who cautioned that undermining public trust in established medical treatments is harmful.
When pressed about the possibility of banning the polio vaccine, Trump reiterated his stance, saying, “No,” and emphasized the importance of gathering information on the vaccine from Kennedy. “I want him to come back with a report as to what he thinks,” Trump added, indicating a desire for a thorough evaluation rather than impulsive decisions.
“We’re going to have reports – nothing is going to happen very quickly,” Trump elaborated, describing Kennedy as a “very rational guy.” He pointed out that people in his circle have been affected by the poliovirus, and he praised the contributions of Jonas Salk, the creator of the polio vaccine, highlighting how the vaccine made a significant positive impact on public health.
While Trump dismissed rumors about a ban, he did convey his concerns regarding the rising autism rates in the U.S., a topic that Kennedy has previously linked to vaccines. “We’re going to look into finding why the Autism rate is so much higher than it was 20, 25, 30 years ago,” Trump remarked. “There’s something wrong, and we’re going to try finding that.”
In a statement following Trump’s remarks, a spokesperson for his transition team clarified that Kennedy supports the availability of the polio vaccine, emphasizing the need for it to be thoroughly studied. This response should help ease public fears as the new administration seeks to balance health policy with ongoing health concerns in society.
