Mitch McConnell Criticizes RFK Jr. Ally's Push to Revoke Polio Vaccine Approval

The Senate leader, a polio survivor, warns against undermining public trust in vaccines as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces scrutiny over his nomination to lead HHS.

Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, condemned efforts to challenge the polio vaccine, calling them dangerous and uninformed.
Aaron Siri, an advisor to RFK Jr. and lawyer for the Informed Consent Action Network, filed a 2022 petition to revoke FDA approval of the polio vaccine IPOL over safety concerns.
President-elect Donald Trump, who nominated Kennedy for Health and Human Services secretary, has expressed support for the polio vaccine but signaled openness to reviewing vaccine policies.
Kennedy has sought to distance himself from the anti-vaccine label, emphasizing informed choice and transparency, though his history raises concerns among public health experts.
The FDA has not yet acted on Siri's petition, and experts maintain that polio vaccines are safe and critical in preventing a once-devastating disease.