Lawyer Helping RFK Jr. veterinary health officials have asked the FDA to get rid of the polio vaccine

On By Littum

A lawyer currently assisting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with electing federal health officials, once petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to revoke its approval of several critical childhood vaccines, including the polio vaccine.

Aaron Siri, managing partner at Siri & Glimstad LLP, has a history of challenging the FDA to pause or completely withdraw various vaccines — a move that raises concerns given Kennedy’s historic anti-vaccine rhetoric.

In 2022, Siri asked the FDA Commissioner on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network to stop using the polio vaccine in infants and young children.

The petition claimed the vaccine was not properly tested to ensure it was safe, despite its decades of use protecting millions of children from contracting the disease, which can cause paralysis.

He filed a similar petition to withdraw a hepatitis B vaccine for children in 2020.

In 2021, Siri asked the FDA, again on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network, to pause its use of six childhood vaccines that protect against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and hepatitis A until they revealed information about aluminum in them.

RFK Jr. was once an independent presidential candidate, but after dropping out he endorsed Donald Trump, who recently picked him as HHS secretary

RFK Jr. was once an independent presidential candidate, but after dropping out he endorsed Donald Trump, who recently picked him as HHS secretary (Reuters)

It appears Siri is already having a strong influence on Kennedy, helping him question and select potential leaders for top federal health care jobs. A person familiar with the talks said New York Timesthat the two have questioned potential candidates about their views on vaccines.

The revelation, first reported by New York Timesis alarming because of Kennedy’s status as a Health and Human Services Secretary candidate.

Kennedy already faces an uphill battle to get his nomination approved by the Senate because of his past anti-vaccine statements and promotion of health-related conspiracy theories. Many, including 75 Nobel laureates, have urged senators not to confirm him because of his criticism of mainstream medicine.

Aaron Siri speaks during a congressional hearing on the Biden administration's administrative response to COVID-19.

Aaron Siri speaks during a congressional hearing on the Biden administration’s administrative response to COVID-19. (Screenshot/House Committee on the Judiciary)

In the past, Kennedy has linked vaccines to autism – a debunked theory with no scientific or medical evidence. He has claimed that “no vaccine” is safe and effective – which is also false.

He has also attributed mental health problems, like those that cause people to commit mass shootings, to drugs. Both antidepressant use and mass shootings have increased in recent decades, the scientific community has found “no biological plausibility” to support a link between the two, according to Ragy Girgis, an associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, per New York Times.

Vaccines have proven to be a crucial and effective way to prevent the spread of deadly diseases.

Kennedy has assured people that he will not “take away” vaccines, like Siri, and claims that he is not anti-vax. But it is unclear what he will do about vaccines if he is confirmed.

A spokesman for Kennedy said New York Times“Mr. Kennedy has long said he wants transparency in vaccines and giving people choices.”