Attorney linked to Kennedy causes controversy over spreading vaccine misinformation at CDC advisory meeting

An attorney with strong anti-vaccine views, Aaron Siri, who has a history of suing both federal and state health agencies, spoke at a recent session of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) vaccine advisory panel. His appearance at this meeting was seen as an unusual departure for a committee that has long been recognized as a reliable source for vaccine guidance.

Siri, who also represents Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known anti-vaccine advocate, presented an extensive argument on the childhood immunization schedule. He raised alarms about what he claimed were harmful side effects from standard vaccines and placed particular emphasis on those for hepatitis B, pneumococcal disease, and a combination shot for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). Previously, Siri has urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revoke approval of the polio vaccine.

Art Caplan, head of medical ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, criticized Siris presence, suggesting that the advisory panel, officially known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), might be using a biased ideology to push their anti-vaccine agenda. This is a science issue, and hes the wrong person, with the wrong conflicts, and with misleading information, Caplan stated.

Siri also revisited the widely debunked theory linking vaccines to autism, arguing that there was a lack of studies to disprove this connection. He stated, If you're going to say vaccines dont cause autism, have the data to prove it. Despite decades of scientific research, including comprehensive studies into the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, no credible evidence supports a link between vaccines and autism. A recent large-scale Danish study confirmed that there was no association between aluminum in vaccines and an increase in neurodevelopmental disorders. A comprehensive review published in 2021 of 138 studies also concluded that MMR vaccines do not cause autism.

Furthermore, Siri raised concerns about the failure of certain childhood vaccines to prevent transmission, citing research involving infant baboons and a whooping cough vaccine. Public health experts countered that the primary goal of these vaccines is to reduce symptomatic illness and prevent death. Siri also suggested that childhood vaccines had not been sufficiently tested for safety, even though monitoring for vaccine side effects has been continuous for decades.

One of Siris claimsthat vaccines were never tested against placeboswas disputed by experts in the field. Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford Medicine, explained that there are numerous placebo-controlled trials for childhood vaccines, including large studies published in reputable journals. Dr. Cody Meissner, a pediatrician, and former ACIP member, also condemned Siris presentation, describing it as a distortion of the facts. Meissner expressed his disappointment, stating, For you to come here and make these absolutely outrageous statements about safety is a big disappointment to me.

Siris appearance at the ACIP meeting followed a period of disarray, where several advisory members and speakers made unsubstantiated claims about the safety and efficacy of hepatitis B vaccines. In a controversial move, the panel voted to modify the longstanding recommendation for all newborns to receive a first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Instead, they suggested that women who test negative for hepatitis B consult a healthcare provider to determine whether their newborn should receive the birth dose.

In June, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed several members of the ACIP, accusing them of having conflicts of interest, and replaced them with individuals who are skeptical of vaccines. Siri disclosed several conflicts of interest during the meeting, including ongoing lawsuits against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its subsidiary agencies. These lawsuits include cases related to COVID-19 vaccine injuries and challenges to vaccine mandate exemptions. Siri had previously sued the CDC to obtain studies that supposedly demonstrate vaccines links to autism.

Siris participation in the meeting was scheduled alongside two leading vaccine experts, Dr. Paul Offit and Dr. Peter Hotez. However, both declined the invitation. Hotez cited the shift in ACIPs mission, stating that it no longer aligned with science-based medicine, while Offit expressed that he would have attended but did not recall receiving an invitation. Caplan argued that such debates were unproductive, suggesting that some issues, such as the connection between vaccines and autism, were settled and did not require further discussion.