Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader and a polio survivor, made a strong statement in favor of the polio vaccine on Friday, shortly after The New York Times reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s lawyer has requested federal regulators to remove the vaccine from the market. While not mentioning Kennedy directly, McConnell indicated that this petition could threaten Kennedy’s chances of being confirmed as health secretary in the upcoming Trump administration. “Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous,” McConnell stated. He is set to step down as his party’s Senate leader next month but could still play a significant role in Kennedy’s confirmation vote. “Anyone looking for the Senate’s approval to join the new administration should avoid any hint of being connected to such activities.” Mr. Kennedy has stated that he does not aim to deprive anyone of their vaccines. In 2022, his attorney, Aaron Siri, submitted the petition for the Informed Consent Action Network, a nonprofit organization led by Mr. Kennedy’s ex-communications director. Mr. Siri is providing guidance to Mr. Kennedy as he reviews candidates for the Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. McConnell, 82, from Kentucky, contracted polio during childhood, more than ten years before the vaccine was widely distributed. After his left leg became paralyzed, his mother brought him to a treatment center in Warm Springs, Georgia, the same place where another well-known polio survivor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, received care. While Mr. McConnell did manage to recover, the lasting effects of the illness stayed with him into adulthood, resulting in a shaky and uneven walking style. He frequently discusses the experience, stating, “Since I was 2, I could only lead a normal life without paralysis thanks to the incredible blend of modern medicine and a mother’s love.” Mr. McConnell stated, “For the millions who followed me, the true miracle was the lifesaving ability of the polio vaccine.”
