Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s legal adviser Aaron Siri petitioned to end polio vaccine’s FDA approval: Report
- Aaron Siri, legal adviser to RFK Jr., petitioned the FDA to revoke approval for the polio vaccine and 13 others on behalf of the anti-vaccine group ICAN. The move raises concerns amid Kennedy’s nomination and Trump’s plans to lead HHS.
Aaron Siri, the legal adviser helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has reportedly petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine.
According to The New York Times, Siri filed a petition in 2022 on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), requesting the FDA to revoke approval for polio vaccines and halt the distribution of 13 other vaccines, including those for tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis A.
Siri’s close ties to the Informed Consent Action Network, an anti-vaccine organization, have raised alarm.
In November, US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Kennedy Jr. to serve as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, a role tasked with safeguarding public health and safety.
Dr Stanley Plotkin, the creator of the rubella vaccine and a prominent voice in immunization advocacy, expressed grave concerns over Siri’s potential influence, as per the news report. “Putting the anti-vaccine lawyer in a position of power would be a disaster,” he was quoted as saying in the news report. “I find him laughable in many ways — except, of course, that he’s a danger to public health.”
Kennedy’s vaccine stance questioned
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his vocal skepticism of vaccines, had previously stated that he would not restrict vaccine access for those who choose to use them.
Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of state and federal COVID-19 restrictions and accused of spreading misinformation about the virus, has spent years raising doubts about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, including promoting a debunked claim linking vaccines to autism.
Trump’s take on vaccines
In a Thursday interview with Time magazine, President-elect Donald Trump suggested his administration could reassess childhood vaccination programs.
Trump revealed plans to hold discussions with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., about the future of vaccination programs. "We’re going to have a big discussion," Trump stated, referencing concerns about rising autism rates. “The autism rate is at a level that nobody ever believed possible. If you look at things that are happening, there’s something causing it.”
When asked whether this dialogue might result in ending or altering vaccination programs, Trump said, “It could if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end.”
Trump’s remarks align with his comments during a Sunday interview on Meet the Press, where he emphasized the need to examine potential risks associated with vaccines.
"I think vaccines are — certain vaccines — are incredible. But maybe some aren’t. And if they aren’t, we have to find out," he stated.
As the Trump administration prepares to take office, the inclusion of individuals with controversial stances on vaccines continues to stir debate and concern over the future of public health policy in the United States.
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Business NewsNewsUs NewsRobert F. Kennedy Jr.’s legal adviser Aaron Siri petitioned to end polio vaccine’s FDA approval: Report
First Published:13 Dec 2024, 11:32 PM IST
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