Trump official overruled FDA scientists to reject Moderna's flu shot

Here's something that really caught my attention — Vinay Prasad, a top vaccine official under the Trump administration, overruled FDA scientists to block Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine from even being reviewed. Now, here’s where it gets interesting: according to Beth Mole in TechCrunch, a team of career scientists at the FDA was ready to evaluate the vaccine. David Kaslow, a seasoned vaccine reviewer, even wrote a memo urging the review to go ahead. But Prasad, a political appointee known for causing controversy, decided otherwise — despite objections from the scientific team. Reports from Stat News and The Wall Street Journal reveal that FDA scientists confronted Prasad in an hourlong meeting, explaining why rejecting the review was a mistake. Beth Mole notes that these scientists were pushing for what’s best for public health, while Prasad’s decision seemed driven by politics. And get this — this episode highlights just how much influence politics can still have over science, even at the FDA.