An attorney representing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. strongly criticized a recent New York Times report that alleged the Trump HHS secretary nominee attempted to revoke FDA approval for the polio vaccine.
“The petition’s scope was narrowly focused, contrary to exaggerated media claims. It simply requested the FDA to mandate a proper trial for licensing of a new polio vaccine for children,” stated Aaron Siri, a trusted advisor to RFK Jr. and partner at Siri & Glimstad LLP, in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The New York Times article published last Friday accused Siri of “waging a war” against all vaccines, but Siri refuted this claim, asserting that the petition did not aim to eliminate the polio vaccine. Rather, it sought to ensure the safety of a specific licensed polio vaccine given to children multiple times before their first birthday.
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Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsing former President Donald Trump sparked a strong reaction from the mainstream media. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
“The intention was never to eliminate the polio vaccine, but to ensure the safety of one of the existing licensed polio vaccines given to children at a young age,” clarified Siri.
Shortly before heading to Capitol Hill for meetings with Senators, RFK Jr. petitioned, through ICAN, to suspend the polio vaccine IPOL for infants and children. This petition stemmed from concerns surrounding the safety evaluation of IPOL, approved in 1990, based on limited pediatric trials.
This particular polio vaccine, as described by Siri, employs a unique technology involving genetic alterations to monkey kidney cells to grow the polio virus, distinguishing it from traditional vaccines developed by Salk and Sabin.
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Nurse Lydia Fulton prepares to administer vaccines at Children’s Primary Care Clinic in Minneapolis, MN, 2017. (Courtney Perry/For the Washington Post)
An additional petition filed by ICAN in 2021 addresses concerns with 13 childhood vaccines containing aluminum adjuvants. This petition calls for verification of the aluminum content in these vaccines, citing a study showing discrepancies between listed amounts and actual levels.
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U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a vaping session in 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Subsequent to the media coverage of Siri’s petition, both Trump and RFK Jr. affirmed their support for the polio vaccine, without delineating a specific preference. RFK Jr., amidst his presidential campaign under the theme “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA), has expressed skepticism toward certain vaccines while endorsing others.
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“Mr. Kennedy believes the Polio Vaccine should be available to the public and thoroughly and properly studied,” stated Katie Miller, the transition spokeswoman for Kennedy.
Trump echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of thorough evaluation while endorsing the polio vaccine, during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago.
Fox News Digital reached out to the New York Times for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
