Do we reallyneedpolio shots? Deep thoughts by RFK Jr. advisor get dragged.

In a recent podcast, Kirk Milhoan, the chair of a federal vaccine advisory panel appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expressed alarming views on vaccines that have drawn sharp criticism from the American Medical Association. Milhoan, who took the helm of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in December, shared his controversial opinions on the show titled 'Why Should I Trust You.' During the hour-long discussion, Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist, made statements that have raised serious concerns within the medical community. He openly criticized established scientific practices by declaring, 'I don’t like established science,' and claimed, 'science is what I observe.' His disdain for evidence-based approaches, which prior ACIP panels implemented to develop vaccine policies, alarmed many experts. While Milhoan asserted he is not anti-vaccine, he echoed common narratives among vaccine skeptics, emphasizing safety concerns and making unfounded claims linking vaccines to various health issues such as allergies and asthma. He went so far as to allege, without providing evidence, that COVID-19 vaccines were responsible for child fatalities. When questioned by the podcast hosts, he equated the risks of vaccine side effects with the dangers posed by the diseases they aim to prevent, despite overwhelming evidence that the risks from diseases are significantly greater. Furthermore, Milhoan challenged the well-established effectiveness of vaccines against measles and polio, suggesting a re-evaluation of their necessity in today's context. He remarked, 'I think also as you look at polio, we need to not be afraid to consider that we are in a different time now than we were then,' referencing changes in sanitation and disease risk since the introduction of the polio vaccine in the 1950s. This provocative stance has ignited a fierce debate about vaccine safety and public health priorities.