Outgoing Republican Senate chief and polio survivor Mitch McConnell on Friday condemned Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s lawyer’s “harmful” efforts to kill the polio vaccine.

Lawyer Aaron Siri in 2022 petitioned the Meals and Drug Administration to revoke its approval for a number of crucial childhood vaccines, together with the polio vaccine. Information of Siri’s motion resurfaced simply weeks after RFK Jr was named by President-elect Donald Trump as his choose to be secretary of Well being and Human Companies. Siri is at present serving to Kennedy vet officers to serve within the division.

Kennedy is understood for his excessive anti-vaccine positions that are broadly derided by the mainstream medical group. Siri’s petition claimed the vaccine was not correctly examined to make sure it was secure, regardless of its decade-long use defending tens of millions of youngsters from contracting the illness.

“The polio vaccine has saved tens of millions of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a horrible illness,” McConnell stated in an announcement following Siri’s motion. “Efforts to undermine public confidence in confirmed cures are usually not simply uninformed — they’re harmful.”

McConnell contracted polio as a toddler and stuggled with paralysis introduced on by the customarily deadly illness. To this present day he nonetheless grapples with stiffness in his legs.

“Like tens of millions of households earlier than them, my dad and mom knew the ache and concern of watching their baby battle with the life-altering analysis of polio,” McConnell stated in a assertion.

“From the age of two, regular life with out paralysis was solely potential for me due to the miraculous mixture of recent medication and a mom’s love. However for tens of millions who got here after me, the actual miracle was the saving energy of the polio vaccine.”

Neither Siri nor RFK Jr. instantly responded to McConnell’s assault.