Will Stone

For years, Kennedy led an advocacy group that's a big player in the anti-vaccine movement. And Scott, yesterday we learned that in the spring of 2021, Kennedy filed a citizen's petition on behalf of that advocacy group to the FDA. And in it, he requested the agency revoke the authorizations for the COVID vaccine for all demographic groups.

For years, Kennedy led an advocacy group that's a big player in the anti-vaccine movement. And Scott, yesterday we learned that in the spring of 2021, Kennedy filed a citizen's petition on behalf of that advocacy group to the FDA. And in it, he requested the agency revoke the authorizations for the COVID vaccine for all demographic groups.

Of course, the FDA denied this request, but Kennedy has an extensive history of making requests inaccurate and misleading statements on vaccines, and he has already made comments undermining trust in the existing bird flu vaccines. We reached out to the transition team for comment about their plans, but did not hear back.

Of course, the FDA denied this request, but Kennedy has an extensive history of making requests inaccurate and misleading statements on vaccines, and he has already made comments undermining trust in the existing bird flu vaccines. We reached out to the transition team for comment about their plans, but did not hear back.

Of course, the FDA denied this request, but Kennedy has an extensive history of making requests inaccurate and misleading statements on vaccines, and he has already made comments undermining trust in the existing bird flu vaccines. We reached out to the transition team for comment about their plans, but did not hear back.

Hey there. Yeah, unfortunately, it's looking like it.

Hey there. Yeah, unfortunately, it's looking like it.

Hey there. Yeah, unfortunately, it's looking like it.

Definitely. So, you know, the basics are that a bird flu infection starts when the protein on the virus binds to a receptor on the cell it wants to take over. This is the HA protein on the virus. Now, luckily, the version of H5N1 spreading in cattle has not evolved to target the receptors that dominate the upper airways in humans.

Definitely. So, you know, the basics are that a bird flu infection starts when the protein on the virus binds to a receptor on the cell it wants to take over. This is the HA protein on the virus. Now, luckily, the version of H5N1 spreading in cattle has not evolved to target the receptors that dominate the upper airways in humans.

Definitely. So, you know, the basics are that a bird flu infection starts when the protein on the virus binds to a receptor on the cell it wants to take over. This is the HA protein on the virus. Now, luckily, the version of H5N1 spreading in cattle has not evolved to target the receptors that dominate the upper airways in humans.

Yeah, that's a good thing because that's a key step in the path to becoming a pandemic virus. There have been dozens of known human infections so far, and there's some reason to believe that's probably an undercount. Luckily, most of the cases have been mild and many are just presenting as, you know, conjunctivitis, an eye infection or sometimes a mild cold.

Yeah, that's a good thing because that's a key step in the path to becoming a pandemic virus. There have been dozens of known human infections so far, and there's some reason to believe that's probably an undercount. Luckily, most of the cases have been mild and many are just presenting as, you know, conjunctivitis, an eye infection or sometimes a mild cold.

Yeah, that's a good thing because that's a key step in the path to becoming a pandemic virus. There have been dozens of known human infections so far, and there's some reason to believe that's probably an undercount. Luckily, most of the cases have been mild and many are just presenting as, you know, conjunctivitis, an eye infection or sometimes a mild cold.

That's right. Mostly agriculture workers, though there have been several cases in North America without a known source of infection. One of those was in Missouri earlier this year. There was another in California. And then most concerning was a case in Canada. This was a teenager who became severely ill. They were hospitalized in critical condition.

That's right. Mostly agriculture workers, though there have been several cases in North America without a known source of infection. One of those was in Missouri earlier this year. There was another in California. And then most concerning was a case in Canada. This was a teenager who became severely ill. They were hospitalized in critical condition.

That's right. Mostly agriculture workers, though there have been several cases in North America without a known source of infection. One of those was in Missouri earlier this year. There was another in California. And then most concerning was a case in Canada. This was a teenager who became severely ill. They were hospitalized in critical condition.

They could not tell how this person was infected. There was genetic sequencing showing that it probably Wasn't spread by cattle. It did not look like the version that's in the dairy cattle. It was pretty similar to what had been spreading in wild birds in British Columbia where this teenager was infected.

They could not tell how this person was infected. There was genetic sequencing showing that it probably Wasn't spread by cattle. It did not look like the version that's in the dairy cattle. It was pretty similar to what had been spreading in wild birds in British Columbia where this teenager was infected.

They could not tell how this person was infected. There was genetic sequencing showing that it probably Wasn't spread by cattle. It did not look like the version that's in the dairy cattle. It was pretty similar to what had been spreading in wild birds in British Columbia where this teenager was infected.