Fact check: RFK's Lawyer Has Asked the F.D.A. to Revoke Approval of the Polio Vaccine

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

The statement is accurate - Aaron Siri, who serves as RFK Jr.'s lawyer, did file a petition with the FDA in 2022 requesting the withdrawal of polio vaccine approval, specifically for infants, toddlers, and children. The petition was filed on behalf of the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN).

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

• The CDC has documented that the polio vaccine provides 99% protection against severe disease with primarily mild side effects
• Siri and RFK Jr. publicly claim they don't want to halt immunizations completely, but rather want more controlled safety trials
• The scientific community, represented by experts like Dr. Stanley Plotkin (rubella vaccine inventor), views these legal challenges as dangerous to public health
• The petition is part of a broader pattern - Siri has challenged multiple vaccine approvals including hepatitis B, tetanus, and diphtheria vaccines
• As of December 2023, the new oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) has been safely administered in approximately 1 billion doses across 35 countries

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:

The statement presents the situation in isolation, without mentioning that:

• This is part of a larger campaign by ICAN and Siri challenging multiple vaccines, not just polio
• The timing coincides with political developments, as RFK Jr. is being considered for HHS Secretary and Trump has suggested discussions about childhood vaccination programs
• Those benefiting from anti-vaccine narratives include alternative medicine providers, certain political figures building supporter bases, and organizations like ICAN that receive funding through anti-vaccine advocacy
• The statement omits the established safety record of polio vaccines and their crucial role in nearly eradicating a deadly disease globally