Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s private lawyer beforehand lobbied the Meals and Drug Administration to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, highlighting an influential Kennedy ally who, sources inform ABC Information, has been serving to interview candidates for high well being jobs within the incoming Trump administration.
The matter might be one thing RFK Jr. will get questioned about when he goes to Capitol Hill subsequent week to fulfill with senators contemplating whether or not to verify him as well being and human providers secretary..
Aaron Siri, a accomplice on the legislation agency Siri & Glimstad, has lengthy fought in opposition to the prevalence of vaccines. He has additionally filed petitions looking for to pause the distribution of different vaccines, together with Hepatitis B, and to revoke the emergency-use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines.
The 2022 polio petition was made on behalf of considered one of Siri’s purchasers, the Knowledgeable Consent Motion Community (ICAN), a gaggle based by Del Bigtree, one other shut Kennedy ally additionally concerned in health-related transition issues, in line with sources.
“Petitioner requests that the FDA withdraw or droop the approval for [the polio vaccine] for infants, toddlers, and youngsters till a correctly managed and correctly powered double-blind trial of adequate period is carried out to evaluate the protection of this product,” Siri wrote.
Robert Kennedy Jr. speaks with others earlier than a ceremony with President-elect Donald Trump on the New York Inventory Trade, Dec. 12, 2024, in New York.
Alex Brandon/AP
The New York Occasions reported on the petition earlier Friday.
Siri didn’t instantly reply to an ABC Information request for remark.
Kennedy, in the meantime, didn’t reply to written questions on whether or not he agrees with revoking approval of the polio vaccine, or if, as well being and human providers secretary, he would intervene in an FDA evaluation of Siri’s petitions.
The polio vaccine out there in the US is beneficial for youngsters and three doses provide a minimum of 99% safety in opposition to extreme illness, together with paralysis, in line with the CDC. Unintended effects are often gentle and go away on their very own, the company notes, and the vaccine has not been identified to trigger critical issues.
For the reason that late Nineteen Eighties, world polio instances have decreased by greater than 99% alongside elevated vaccination efforts to eradicate the illness, from an estimated 350,000 instances to simply six reported in 2021, in line with the World Well being Group. The efforts have allowed an estimated 20 million folks to stroll at the moment who would have in any other case been paralyzed and saved greater than 1.5 million lives, in line with the CDC.
The polio vaccine has been part of routine childhood schedule for many years, and federal well being officers make the most of a number of techniques to watch for vaccine security. Polio may cause lifelong paralysis and as much as 10% of kids who’ve paralysis from polio die, because the virus impacts the muscle tissue that enable them to breathe, the CDC notes.
Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell wears a bandage on his face and brace on his wrist as he walks to forged a vote on the Senate ground after falling throughout a luncheon on Capitol Hill, Dec. 10, 2024, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, mentioned in an announcement offered to ABC Information that any efforts to undermine public confidence in confirmed cures is just not solely uninformed, but additionally harmful.
“Like hundreds of thousands of households earlier than them, my dad and mom knew the ache and worry of watching their youngster wrestle with the life-altering analysis of polio,” he mentioned. “From the age of two, regular life with out paralysis was solely attainable for me due to the miraculous mixture of recent drugs and a mom’s love. However for hundreds of thousands who got here after me, the true miracle was the saving energy of the polio vaccine.
“For many years, I’ve been proud to work with devoted advocates — from Rotary Worldwide to the Gates Basis — and use my platform in public life to champion the pursuit of cures for additional generations. I’ve by no means flinched from confronting specious disinformation that threatens the advance of lifesaving medical progress, and I cannot at the moment.
“The polio vaccine has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a horrible illness. Efforts to undermine public confidence in confirmed cures usually are not simply uninformed — they’re harmful,” he continued. “Anybody looking for the Senate’s consent to serve within the incoming Administration would do effectively to avoid even the looks of affiliation with such efforts.”
Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer referred to as on RFK Jr. to “state his place” on the matter.
“This may undoubtedly make America sick once more. It is outrageous and harmful for folks within the Trump Transition to attempt to do away with the polio vaccine that has just about eradicated polio in America and saved hundreds of thousands of lives. RFK Jr. should state his place on this,” Schumer mentioned in a web-based publish.
ABC Information’ Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.
