A lawyer for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. blasted a New York Times report published Friday that claimed Kennedy, who is President-elect Donald Trump's pick for HHS secretary, wants to revoke FDA approval for polio vaccines, calling it "hysterical" and a "distortion" of Kennedy's views.

"Contrary to hysterical media reports that the petition sought to make sure no polio vaccines would be available, the scope of the petition was quite narrow," Aaron Siri told Fox News Digital. "It simply asked the FDA to require a proper trial for licensure for children of a novel polio vaccine."

Kennedy is "waging a war" on vaccines, the Times claimed.

In truth, Siri said, the report "falsely claimed the petition sought to eliminate" the polio vaccine, "as if there is only one, and that our client sought to leave Americans without the choice to get vaccinated for polio."

Safety concerns

"In reality, the petition sought to ensure the safety of one of the six existing licensed polio vaccines that we inject into our children three times before their first birthday," he said.

Kennedy goes to Capitol Hill this week to look for support of his nomination from senators, who have to vote to confirm him.

Siri noted that the vaccine being questioned, IPOL, uses cells grown on monkey kidney cells that replicate indefinitely, which is similar to cancer cells.

Traces of the cells are in each dose of vaccine.

"Big believer":

When the story broke, both Trump and Kennedy said they supported polio vaccines for children.

"Mr. Kennedy believes the Polio Vaccine should be available to the public and thoroughly and properly studied," Keneddy Katie Miller, the transition spokeswoman for Kennedy, said in response.

Trump said he's a "big believer" in the polio vaccine but that everything should be studied.

Sanofi's statement

"Sanofi’s vaccines undergo continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure their safety and effectiveness. These efforts reflect our commitment to protecting public health and maintaining the trust of healthcare providers and patients worldwide," the maker of IPOL polio vaccines said in a statement.

"IPV vaccines have been widely used showing not only to provide an acceptable safety profile but also high levels of long-lasting immunity. The absence of polio outbreaks in countries using uniquely IPV vaccines, such as in North America or Europe is a testament of their contribution to polio eradication," the vaccine maker added.

RFK Jr.'s controversial vaccine views have made his confirmation more difficult, but with the Senate turning red in a big way in 2025, Trump is more likely to get what he wants.