Fact check: Did RFKs lawyer petition the FDA to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine?

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results

Aaron Siri, a lawyer representing the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN) and working closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., did file a petition in 2022 asking the FDA to revoke its authorization of the polio vaccine. This was part of a broader campaign that included petitions against 13 other vaccines.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

• The petition exists within a larger context of vaccine policy debates, where:

Medical experts like Dr. Stanley Plotkin (rubella vaccine inventor) and Dr. Paul A. Offit warn this could endanger public health

Dr. Kathryn Edwards specifically called the polio petition "particularly troubling"

• The medical community argues that placebo-controlled vaccine trials (which anti-vaccine advocates often demand) would be unethical given the known risks of diseases
• While RFK Jr. publicly claims he won't remove vaccine access, his close association with Siri and ICAN suggests potential significant changes to vaccine policy if he gains influence
• Siri is currently involved in vetting candidates for top health positions, indicating potential broader influence on future health policy

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while factually accurate, omits crucial context about:

• The broader pattern of anti-vaccine legal challenges (13 other vaccines targeted)
• The potential policy implications if RFK Jr. gains influence over health policy
• The scientific consensus supporting current vaccine protocols
• The involvement of ICAN, an organization that would benefit from reduced vaccine requirements through increased influence over health policy