Attorney for RFK Jr. blasts ‘hysterical’ media report as distortion of HHS pick’s views on vaccines

An attorney advising Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing back against a recent New York Times report that claimed the Trump HHS secretary nominee sought to revoke the FDA’s approval for the polio vaccine. Aaron Siri, a close adviser to RFK Jr. and partner at Siri & Glimstad LLP, told Fox News Digital that the scope of the petition in question was actually quite narrow.

Siri clarified that the petition did not seek to eliminate the polio vaccine altogether, as some reports suggested. Instead, it focused on ensuring the safety of a specific polio vaccine for children. The petition, filed on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), raised concerns about the safety of the IPOL vaccine, which was licensed in 1990 and is administered to children multiple times before their first birthday.

According to Siri, the petition was not targeting the traditional polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk or Albert Sabin. Instead, it addressed a newer vaccine that utilizes a different technology, involving the growth of the polio virus on genetically altered monkey kidney cells. The presence of these cells in the vaccine raised safety concerns that warranted further investigation.

In addition to the polio vaccine petition, ICAN also filed a separate petition in 2021 regarding childhood vaccines containing aluminum adjuvants. This petition called on the FDA to verify and publicly release documentation regarding the accuracy of aluminum levels in these vaccines, highlighting the importance of transparency and safety in vaccine distribution.

Siri emphasized the need for a nuanced discussion around vaccine safety and efficacy, free from political labels or ideological bias. He stressed that raising valid questions about vaccine safety and policy should not be met with backlash or dismissal, but rather with open dialogue and scrutiny.

Both RFK Jr. and former President Donald Trump, who expressed support for the polio vaccine, have clarified their positions in light of the media coverage. RFK Jr. has reiterated his belief in the importance of thoroughly studying and ensuring the safety of the polio vaccine, while Trump emphasized the need to examine all aspects of vaccine distribution.

As the debate around vaccine safety continues, it is crucial to approach the issue with an open mind and a commitment to transparency and accountability. The health and well-being of the public should always be the top priority when it comes to vaccine policy and regulation.