A key legal adviser to Robert Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary, is at the center of efforts to push federal drug regulators to revoke approval for the polio and hepatitis B vaccines and block distribution of 13 other critical vaccines.
Aaron Siri, a lawyer who has been helping Kennedy select top health administrators as part of the Trump transition process, is deeply embedded in longstanding efforts to force the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw a raft of vaccines that have saved the lives and health of millions of Americans.
Siri has been sitting alongside Kennedy in interviews in which they have asked candidates for top health jobs where they stand on vaccines, the New York Times reported on Friday.
Kennedy, a leading vaccine sceptic, has insisted he has no plans to revoke vaccines should he be confirmed by the US Senate for the health secretary position. But his close ties with Siri are raising concerns about the incoming Trump administration’s intentions, given the lawyer’s intimate involvement in the anti-vaccine movement.
Even in blue Colorado, vaccine advocates worry about RFK Jr’s appeal and ‘medical freedom’ movement
Siri works closely with the Informed Consent Action Network (Ican), a “medical freedom” non-profit founded by Del Bigtree, whose has long waged war on vaccines including as producer of the anti-vaccination documentary, Vaxxed. The New York Times report noted that Siri filed the 2022 petition calling for the FDA to revoke approval for the polio vaccine on behalf of ICAN.
Poliovirus, the cause of a disease that used to be one of the most feared by Americans, has been eliminated from the country by the US through polio vaccines. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the best way to avoid its return and keep people safe is through vaccination.
Siri has not only been involved in lawsuits calling for the withdrawal or suspension of the polio and hepatitis B vaccines, but he has also petitioned the FDA to “pause distribution” of 13 other vaccines, according to the Times.
Trump said this week that Kennedy may investigate vaccines for a supposed link with autism. The remark to NBC suggests that his pick for health secretary may run with the conspiracy theory that there is a connection between childhood vaccinations and autism that has been thoroughly debunked yet is repeatedly peddled by Kennedy.
Kennedy’s spokesperson, Katie Miller, confirmed to the Times that Siri has been advising Kennedy but said his vaccine petitions had not been discussed.
“Mr Kennedy has long said that he wants transparency in vaccines and to give people choice,” she said.
Just like last time, the only requirements for a Trump appointment is absolute loyalty and a deep seething hatred for the agency they’re instructed to lead. Democrats on the other hand: “Pete likes trains.” Followed by “HE DOESN’T DESERVE THAT POSITION!” Nonstop from media.
COVID killed upwards of 500k people in the US. Can’t wait to see the numbers when they stop childhood vaccinations.
POLIO SHMOLIO
Wikipedia has it at 1,208,476 and that isn’t including many states removed deaths from covid by changing cause of death to things like pneumonia or stroke.
It’s likely over 2 million.
Today i learned that you can spell advisor as adviser. Even more suprising that its the guardian which you would think uses the british spelling.
Next up: Polio is just like flu, nothing to worry about. Musk will now force you to go to work from a government position.
Yeah lets bring back polio why the fuck not
Some folks in Texas are having their first polio parties this week.
ALL GAS NO BRAKES WCGW
Seriously though, where can I get a polio vaccine before they revoke the auth? Because this makes me think that polio’s gonna make a comeback in a big way, globally
If your parents aren’t insane you’ve already had all 4 doses of the vaccine by age 6.
Not globally, the world will just cut off America.
Jesus he looks like a bloated corpse
Like the whale he strapped to his car
